4B+Prairie+Dogs

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DESCRIPTION Grasslands are big, open spaces that receive 10-30 inches of rain per year. They are commonly found between forests and deserts.

__Plants__
 * Biotic**

Biome Purple needle grass Goldenrods Fox tail Wild oats Ryegrass Buffalo grass Asters Sunflowers Clovers Wild indigos Cone flowers

__Animals__

Prairie dog Black footed ferret Box turtle Meadowlark Yellow-headed black bird Mule dear Bull snake Squirrel Bison Prairie rattlesnake Burrowing owl Greater prairie chicken Pronghorn Marmot Pocket gopher Mice Coyotes Beetle Caterpillar Grasshopper Rat Rabbit

**Abiotic**
Summers- Hot/dry (can get to over 100* F) Winters-Cold (most of precipitation falls as snow in winter) Rain/snow average 20-35 inches per year (most falls in wintertime) Fire common ( can be set by humans or lightning) Very rich soil (lots of nutrients)

THREATS The grasslands are being transformed into farmland. Prairie dogs are being shot, trapped, and poisoned by farmers because they feel that the prairie dogs are competing with the cattle for food. The cows often step in the prairie dogs’ burrows and trip or break their legs. People also bulldoze over prairie dogs’ burrows. Either the prairie dogs come back to find that their home is gone, or they are buried by the bulldozer. Another threat is burrow fumigates where toxic gases are released into a prairie dogs burrow. IMPORTANCE Prairie dogs provide a stable food source for animals such as coyotes and snakes. Coyotes and snakes also help control the mice and rat population. The prairie dogs’ burrows are also helpful. Burrowing owls, snakes, ferrets, insects, and other creatures live in these holes. They also help to aerate the soil and distribute nutrients. CONSERVATION PLAN To reduce the amount of prairie dogs that are killed, we will place signs around the areas which we know prairie dogs have inhabited, saying that prairie dogs are living here, and to be careful of where you are going. Prairie dogs that inhabit farmland will be humanly moved to a different location. Also, we will try to pass a law that makes it illegal to kill prairie dogs. It will also be illegal to spray poisons around the area, as this kills the prairie dogs and it also bad for the environment. Since prairie dogs are such an important part of the prairie food chain, it’s critical that we are able to keep them alive. CITATIONS Original image: ' [|untitled] ' http://www.flickr.com/photos/19753742@N00/8058515 by: Corin Royal Drummond []

Original image: ' [|Utah Prairie Dog] ' http://www.flickr.com/photos/66727626@N00/337867686 by: James Marvin Phelps Original image: ' [|La Vanille Crocodile Farm] ' http://www.flickr.com/photos/74743437@N00/181340593 by: Joachim S. Müller Original image: ' [|Western Meadowlark_9037] ' http://www.flickr.com/photos/93452626@N00/98162877 by: Pete Original image: ' [|Yellow-headed Blackbird] ' http://www.flickr.com/photos/8771526@N03/2480136514 by: Teddy Llovet Original image: ' <span style="color: #629632; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Ain't takin' no Bull!] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">' http://www.flickr.com/photos/33403047@N00/3589617376 by: Pat Original image: ' <span style="color: #629632; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Elk Island] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">' http://www.flickr.com/photos/71482738@N00/3653194820 by: Dave Original image: ' <span style="color: #629632; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Rattler] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">' http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035555243@N01/3369567441 by: Thomas Hawk Original image: ' <span style="color: #629632; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|DSC_0192.jpeg] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">' http://www.flickr.com/photos/66777430@N00/4402552174 by: Russell Neches Original image: ' <span style="color: #629632; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Hopping Mice] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">' http://www.flickr.com/photos/26768348@N00/519649900 by: Stephen Michael Barnett Original image: ' <span style="color: #629632; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[|Know yourself.] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">' http://www.flickr.com/photos/84826593@N00/3205374952 by: d hutcheson Original image: ' <span style="color: #629632; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; text-decoration: none; textunderline: none;">[|Escaravelho // Beetle (Mylabris quadripunctata)] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';">' http://www.flickr.com/photos/58213213@N00/514384866 by: Valter Jacinto Original image: 'Prairie Dog Posse' http://www.flickr.com/photos/77436208@N00/2571253205 by: Erica Marshall