Food Habits of the Black-tailed Prairie Dog in Western South Dakota

Abstract

Five major plant species were important in stomach and pellet samples of prairie dogs from two different "towns" in western South Dakota: buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides), scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea), threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), and western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii). Seasonal differences for spring and summer diets were not significant (P>0.05). During winter pricklypear cactus (Opuntia polyacantha) and western wheatgrass increased in importance in diets and the other major species declined in importance. Three species important in the range but not important in the diet were threeawn (Aristida fendleriana and A. longiseta), prairie dogweed (Dyssodia papposa), and horseweed (Conyza ramosissima).