ABSTRACT
Black-tailed prairie dogs, Cynomys ludovicianus, have been considered to be pests on shortgrass and mixedgrass prairies of central North America since the late 1800's. This chapter presents an overview of the aspects as related to black-tailed prairie dogs on western rangelands. Control programs were examined relative to annual maintenance with complete retreatment of initially treated areas to prevent repopulation of prairie dogs. Program costs could only be recovered if control was possible at a low annual maintenance. Greater plant species diversity and increased crude protein occur on prairie dog colonies because the vegetation is maintained in an early stage of phenological development. The relationship of range classification of vegetation as related to livestock and wildlife provides managers a tool to meet management objectives; clearly no one range condition class can meet all objectives. Prairie dog sport hunting provides a source of state revenue that is expected to increase in the future.
