🌾 “Prairie dogs are ecosystem engineers. As they go about their lives, they change their surroundings in ways that provide shelter, food and even nurseries for other species. On the grasslands of Montana, prairie dog colonies are islands of biodiversity. . . . 🌾 “Their burrows provide homes for many animals, including burrowing owls, badgers, swift fox, tiger salamanders, gopher snakes and black-footed ferrets, to name a few. The closely-cropped grass lawns they keep around their colonies are

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

Come see what's in bloom on the prairie! Join naturalist Pete for a tour through Dodge's restored prairie at our Main Property in West St. Paul. Learn the names of several native plants and flowers along the way. Why are prairies important? These biodiverse ecosystems provide many benefits: 🐛 Essential habitat for native plants and wildlife, especially pollinators like bees and butterflies. 💧 Nature's water filter. Prairie plants help clean groundwater, reduce erosion, and trap beneficial nutr