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

Abstract

In western North America, endangered black‐footed ferrets Mustela nigripes are conserved via reintroduction to colonies of prairie dogs Cynomys spp., their primary prey. Predation is an important source of mortality; coyotes Canis latrans appear to be the most problematic predator, accounting for 67% of known predation events on radio‐tagged ferrets. Little is known about what factors affect spatial use of prairie dog colonies by coyotes, or how other animals might affect interactions between coyotes and ferrets. During June–October 2007–2008, we used spotlight surveys to monitor coyotes and ferrets (both years) and rabbits Sylvilagus spp. (first year) on a 452‐ha colony of black‐tailed prairie dogs Cynomys ludovicianus in the Conata Basin, South Dakota. Coyotes appeared to select areas of the colony used by rabbits, suggesting coyotes hunted rabbits, a common item in their diet. Between midnight and sunrise, ferrets were most commonly observed during early morning (01:00–03:00 h), whereas coyotes were observed mostly during dawn (04:00 h – sunrise) when ferrets were rarely seen. These temporal differences in the timing of observations suggest ferrets tend to remain underground in burrows when coyotes are most active. Coyotes appeared to be attracted to rabbits in both space and time, suggesting the risk of predation for ferrets might relate to the abundance and locations of rabbits in prairie dog colonies.

Reintroducing a keystone burrowing rodent to restore an arid North American grassland: challenges and successes

“…Burrowing owls, American badgers, and desert cottontails were among the species that responded most strongly to our reintroductions, and are species well‐known to associate with prairie dog ( Cynomys spp.) colonies (Clark et al ; Goodrich & Buskirk ; Kotliar et al ; Bayless & Beier ; Davidson et al ; Eads et al , ; Grassel et al ). Cottontails and burrowing owls use prairie dog burrows for homes, nesting, and shelter, and American badgers and raptors are important predators of prairie dogs (Goodrich & Buskirk ; Cully ; Grassel et al ; Eads et al ).…”

“…Black‐tailed jack rabbits may have been attracted to the more nutritious forage that is often found on prairie dog colonies compared to surrounding grasslands (Whicker & Detling ). Some of the species that were more common on the colonies (but most not significantly so), such as coyotes, kit foxes, and horned larks are also known to associate with prairie dog ecosystems and open grassland landscapes (Clark et al ; Kotliar et al ; Ceballos et al ; Davidson et al ; Eads et al ). We suspect ravens were more common on colonies than off because they were attracted to supplemental feed provided during relocation efforts (which is unlikely to be the case for other colony‐associated species because of their known associations with burrows and/or prey, for example).…”

“…Prairie dog colonies attract numerous species that prefer the open grassland habitat they create, such as burrowing owls ( Athene cunicularia ) and mountain plovers ( Charadrius montanus ), and they attract large herbivores, such as bison ( Bison bison ) and cattle ( Bos taurus ), that prefer the higher quality forage found on their colonies (Kotliar et al ; Bayless & Beier ). In addition, many predators rely on prairie dogs as a primary food source, such as coyotes ( Canis latrans ), American badgers ( Taxidea taxus ), raptors, and the endangered black‐footed ferret ( Mustela nigripes ) (Goodrich & Buskirk ; Kotliar et al ; Davidson et al ; Eads et al , ; Grassel et al ).…”

FossilMustela nigripesfrom Snake Creek Burial Cave, Nevada, and Implications for Black-Footed Ferret Paleoecology

“…However, facilitating exposure to greater prey diversity may fortify their resilience when faced with future ecological adversities such as plague (e.g., Shoemaker et al 2014) or climate change. Indirect impacts such as predator-prey interactions of other prairie taxa should be considered as well (e.g., Eads et al 2015). Therefore, we advocate performing systematic analyses to monitor the consumption, interactions, and general sustainability of additional rodents and lagomorphs at BFF reintroduction sites.…”