Prairie Dogs of the Badlands

A sharp call breaks the quiet grassland. A black-tailed prairie dog stands near a burrow entrance, watching the open land. Behind it rise the striped hills and steep ridges of South Dakota’s Badlands.

Despite their name, prairie dogs are not dogs. They are rodents, related to squirrels. Black-tailed prairie dogs have tan fur, short legs, and black tips on their tails. They live in groups called colonies, sometimes known as prairie dog towns. In Badlands National Park, these towns spread across patches of grassland among the rocky formations.

Prairie dogs dig burrows with their strong claws. The underground tunnels provide shelter from harsh weather and predators. Raised mounds of soil around some entrances can help keep rainwater out and give prairie dogs a place to look for danger. When one spots a possible threat, it may give an alarm call. Other prairie dogs can then hurry toward their burrows.

These animals eat mostly grasses and other plants. Their digging and feeding also affect the land around them. Burrowing loosens and mixes the soil, while clipped plants can make it easier for prairie dogs to see approaching predators. Other animals, including burrowing owls, may use empty prairie dog burrows for shelter or nesting.

The colorful Badlands formations have a different story. Their layers formed as sediment, such as sand and mud, collected over millions of years. Wind and water later wore away the softer material, carving the hills and valleys seen today. On the grassland below, prairie dogs continue to dig, call, and share their busy neighborhood with many other creatures.