Abiotic Factors of a Prairie Dog

Prairie Dogs are active members of the grassland biome in North America. They are a type of rodent from the ground squirrel family which feeds on the grasses, broadleaf forbs and insects of the prairie habitat. There are five types of prairie dogs, including black-tailed, white-tailed, Gunnison, Mexican and Utah dogs. They range predominately west of the Mississippi river and are found throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. There are a number of local abiotic factors that affect the life and life cycle of the common prairie dog.

  1. Temperatures

    • The North American grasslands occur at 30 degrees north of the equator and, as a result, have a distinct, four-season pattern. Temperature fluctuates significantly from season to season, dipping to below zero degrees in the winter and climbing to over 100 degrees in the summer months. Because the grasslands experience a significant dry season, lightning and human carelessness frequently cause fires that burn away plant and shrub life, giving the plains their distinctively grass-only habitat.

    Rainfall

    • The prairie experiences between 15 and 25 inches of precipitation per year. Most of this moisture falls in the form of winter snows and spring rains. This jump starts the biome growing season. The grasses that grow on the land can easily sustain life when late summer grows dry. The rain ratio, rich soil and relative temperance make the prairie the most popular farming region in the United States.

    Prairie Dog Habitat

    • The prairie dogs that live on the American Plains burrow into the rich soil to protect themselves. Because the biome is prone to fires, hailstorms, windstorms and other natural disasters, burrowing into the ground can offer them protection from whatever is happening on the surface. Burrows are typically between 3 and 14 feet deep, and can travel 100 feet or more from their starting hole. A mound 3 to 10 feet across and 6 to 12 inches high surrounds the entrance, ensuring water runs away from the opening rather than flooding the tunnels. Burrows are typically about 10 yards apart and occur at a rate of 35 burrows per square acre.

    Toxins

    • Prairie Dog populations have been negatively imparted by control agents, or poisons set out by humans. Local conservation agencies may approve poisoned grain, pelleted baits and fumigants to treat prairie dog infestations that are causing damage to crops or otherwise posing a serious problem. Using poisons that are not approved for prairie dog controls are illegal.