Changes in Vegetation Associated with the Removal of Prairie Dogs

Abstract

From 1938 to 1982 the total acreage of Black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns in Wind Cave National Park increased from 290 to 750 ha. In 1982 a management plan was introduced that reduced the area covered by prairie dog towns to 290 acres. The objective of this study is to monitor vegetation changes that occur following the removal of prairie dogs. These data will prove useful in developing management plans for the removed prairie dog towns and also provide useful data on the vegetation and seed bank composition on the Wind Cave National Park grasslands.