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LEARNING TO LIVE WITH PRAIRIE DOGS - A pair of Montana ranchers is showing that cowherds can exist in harmony with these native animals

National Wildlife, April-May, 2001 by Christie Aschwanden

While the Tranels intend to run the ranch as a profitable business, conservationists aim to protect the area's native ecosystem and species. Tranel Jr. says the goals go hand in hand. "For me, it's more enjoyable to ranch in a natural, environmental way. Economically it's the only viable method."

Keystone Of the Prairie

Although they are short of stature, prairie dogs cast a long shadow over grasslands in the western United States. The rodents' burrows provide homes to a number of birds and other creatures, and the prairie dogs provide nutrition to raptors and other predators. As a result, the large towns where prairie dogs live have many more species than similar areas without the creatures. A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that the fortunes of the following nine species are closely tied to those of the diminutive rodents:

* Black-footed ferret (right)

* Burrowing owl

* Mountain plover

* Ferruginous hawk

* Golden eagle

* Swift fox (above)

* Horned lark

* Deer mouse

* Grasshopper mouse

NWF Takes Action Saving Grasslands And Their Denizens

The National Wildlife Federation is working to protect grassland ecosystems and their wildlife throughout the West. Restoring thriving populations of the black-tailed prairie dog is critical to reaching that goal.

In 1998, NWF petitioned to have the black-tailed prairie dog listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided that the species warrants such a listing, but resource constraints preclude the service from taking action.

NWF is now helping state and tribal governments in the prairie dog's historic range to craft management plans that will lead to the recovery of the species and restore the health of our nation's prairies. For more information on NWF's efforts and to learn how you can help, visit www.nwf.org/prairiedogs.> Colorado writer Christie Aschwanden visited the Twin Buttes ranch last summer to gather material for this story.