Translocating Prairie Dogs: A Review

Prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) have declined greatly in abundance during the past century, and this warrants efforts to restore populations. Restoration often requires translocating animals to previously occupied areas. Workers should follow standard protocols for animal handling and care. Translocation involves selecting source populations and release sites, capturing and transporting animals, preparing release sites with attendant soft-release infrastructure, and monitoring and managing animals. Source populations should be free of plague and genetically appropriate for the translocation strategy. Release sites ideally have physical or historical evidence of previous occupancy, but also may be selected based on soils, slope, and vegetation. Capture, transport, and release of animals must comply with federal, state, and local regulations. Animals have been commonly captured with live traps, by flooding their burrows, or by using a specially adapted vacuum truck; those captured in plague-prone areas are treated to control fleas. Captives usually are hauled to release sites in covered pickup truck beds or trailers. High-quality release sites have short vegetation (