Gunnison’s prairie dogs have been routinely examined to determine whether the species needs protection under the Endangered Species Act. In response, AZGFD continually monitors populations through perimeter mapping colonies, occupancy surveys, index surveys, and density mapping. Meanwhile, other management actions, such as translocations and disease management, help stabilize or increase existing populations.
Plague, a disease that can infect prairie dogs through flea bites, has been a recurring problem for the Gunnison’s prairie dog populations in Arizona. For many years, AZGFD has been working to help populations fight the disease through trials of a plague vaccine that is ingested through oral bait. Since 2013, AZGFD has partnered with APHIS-Wildlife Services, USFS, USFWS, Babbitt Ranches, Phoenix Zoo, and Arizona State University Research Enterprise (ASURE) to administer baits across Gunnison’s Prairie Dog colonies in Arizona.
By the Numbers:
In 2007, AZGFD completed the most comprehensive survey for Gunnison’s prairie dogs across northern Arizona and concluded that 108,353 acres were occupied by the species. Follow up surveys are conducted every three years to ensure populations are stable.
Between 2013 and 2019, AZGFD tested the efficacy of the plague vaccine through seasonal trapping efforts to monitor antibody levels in the prairie dogs.
In conjunction with the vaccine, Delta Dust (Deltamethrine) has been used to dust burrows to kill the plague-carrying fleas across Gunnison’s Prairie Dog colonies statewide.
AZGFD and ASURE partnered to develop a custom heavy-lift drone that is capable of distributing vaccinated baits to large numbers of acres accurately and efficiently.