Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From bison to badgers, ferrets to ferruginous hawks, black-tailed prairie dogs play an important role in creating a grassland habitat that supports dozens of other species. "As keystone species, prairie dogs lie at the heart of a network of ecological interactions," says Smithsonian researcher Andrew Dreelin.
But prairie dog numbers have been declining for decades, and scientists believe the black-tailed prairie dog is down to just 2% of its historic range. How does this impact the species that rely on them? Scientists are racing to find out.
"We're reaching a tipping point for lots of different species," Dreelin said. "We have a great opportunity to make a really big difference for all the species that call grasslands home, to protect the areas that are still left."
Learn more: https://s.si.edu/48IT56S
From bison to badgers, ferrets to ferruginous hawks, black-tailed prairie dogs play an important role in creating a grassland habitat that supports dozens of other species. "As keystone species, prairie dogs lie at the heart of a network of ecological interactions," says Smithsonian researcher Andrew Dreelin.
But prairie dog numbers have been declining for decades, and scientists believe the black-tailed prairie dog is down to just 2% of its historic range. How does this impact the species that rely on them? Scientists are racing to find out.
"We're reaching a tipping point for lots of different species," Dreelin said. "We have a great opportunity to make a really big difference for all the species that call grasslands home, to protect the areas that are still left."
Learn more: https://s.si.edu/48IT56S
