FORT WORTH, Texas — Prairie dogs are making a triumphant, albeit cautious, return to the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge.
Staff at Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge recently relocated a group of black-tailed prairie dogs to its grounds with the help of Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center. The prairie dogs made the trip from Canyon, Texas, where their habitat was threatened by a housing development.
Nature Center staff members Nic Martinez and David Reasoner and Friends board member Megan McConnell accompanied the prairie dogs to Fort Worth. Staff is currently working to ensure the relocation is successful, according to a press release from Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center.
Marty Leonard, a Board Member Emeritus with Friends of the Nature Center, supported the colony's relocation.
“I was thrilled to be a part of such a great, collaborative effort supporting the establishment of a new prairie dog colony at the Nature Center, especially knowing that we were rescuing these animals from a precarious situation,” Leonard said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see them safe and thriving thus far in their new Fort Worth home.”
Their success is not guaranteed, the Nature Center’s previous prairie dog colony was lost in 2015, most likely due to disease. That fate is very common in prairie dog habitats, according to the release.
“While we are optimistic the colony will succeed, we recognize the uncertainties in relocating wildlife," Jared Wood, Nature Center acting manager, said. "The re-establishment of prairie dogs at the Nature Center not only will enrich our pastures but also serve as an invaluable educational resource for our visitors.”
The prevent the spread of disease, the Nature Center will use a flea control bait designed to prevent disease transmission in prairie dog colonies, the release states.
The prairie dogs were released using specially-designed traps that open into artificial burrows. The fake burrows protect them from predators while the prairie dogs begin digging their own burrows, the release states. Nature Center staff are also providing daily food to support their transition.
Prairie dogs play a key role in the health of prairie ecosystems, according to Chris Smith, executive director of Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center. The prairie dogs will also be viewable by the public and offer an educational opportunity for visitors.
