Patterns of Surface Burrow Plugging in a Colony of Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs Occupied by Black-Footed Ferrets

Black-Footed Ferrets and Recreational Shooting Influence the Attributes of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Burrows

“…Shooting and poisoning induce plugging behavior by prairie dogs (Campbell and Clark 1981), suggesting prairie dogs plug burrow openings to entomb dead conspecifics belowground (Smith 1958). The presence of blackfooted ferrets (Mustela nigripes, henceforth "ferrets"), which are semifossorial obligate predators of prairie dogs (Sheets et al 1972, Campbell et al 1987, and snakes also elicit plugging by prairie dogs (Hillman 1968, Henderson et al 1969, Fortenbery 1972, Halpin 1983, Eads and Biggins 2012. Subsurface plugs that result from changes in tunnel design by the prairie dogs (Wilcomb 1954) might reduce prairie dogs' risk of predation by semifossorial predators, such as ferrets.…”

Spatial and temporal use of a prairie dog colony by coyotes and rabbits: potential indirect effects on endangered black‐footed ferrets

“…). We buffered all coyote locations by a 20 m radius circular plot (0.13 ha; Eads & Biggins, ; Eads et al ., ) and counted the numbers of active burrow openings, rabbit locations and ferret locations in each plot. The 0.13‐ha plot size was selected because small plots would seemingly include fewer rabbit or ferret locations than larger plots, which could make it more difficult to detect a relationship between coyotes and rabbits or ferrets.…”

“…During 13 June–10 October 2007 and 11 June–27 September 2008, we used spotlight surveys to monitor coyotes, black‐footed ferrets and rabbits (Eads, ; Eads et al ., , ; Eads & Biggins, ). The survey route was established as a loop that helped maximize coverage of the colony, while minimizing overlap (Eads et al ., ).…”

“…We collected locations of coyotes and ferrets via handheld GPS units as UTM coordinates (Garmin GPS 12XL Personal Navigator units, error ≤15 m; Garmin International, Inc., Olathe, KS, USA) and noted the time of each observation using a satellite clock (Eads et al ., , ; Eads & Biggins, ). Coordinates were collected at the location where an animal was first observed.…”

Information on Black-Footed Ferret Biology Collected Within the Framework of Ferret Conservation

“…Studies of burrow use and modification reported herein relied largely on indirect evidence and radiotelemetry, and much of the attendant discussion of causes and interspecific interactions must remain speculative. Burrow-related topics of this issue include the following: use of multi-opening burrow systems by ferrets (Biggins 2012), ferret digging on black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies in summer (Eads et al 2012a), ferret digging on white-tailed prairie dog (C. leucurus) colonies in winter , and the prairie dog behavior of plugging burrows at the ground surface (Eads and Biggins 2012) or belowground ) in response to ferret presence.…”