An Economic Analysis of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog [Cynomys ludovicianus] Control
- 1 July 1984
- journal article
- research article
- Published by JSTOR in Journal of Range Management
- Vol. 37 (4) , 358-361
- https://doi.org/10.2307/3898711
Abstract
Black-tailed prairie dog (C. ludovicianus) control by poisoning with zinc phosphide was not economically feasible in the Conata Basin of South Dakota [USA]. Economic analyses were conducted from USA Forest Service and rancher viewpoints. Control programs were analyzed with annual maintenance or complete retreatment of initially treated areas to prevent prairie dog repopulation and, except for annual maintenance at low repopulation rates, were unable to recover initial control costs. At a prairie dog repopulation rate of 30%/yr (the most realistic projection), prairie dog control was not economically feasible and annual maintenance control costs were greater than the annual value of forage gained. Control benefit was forage gained on treated areas. With an increase of approximately 51 kg/ha of cattle forage, over 7 ha of initial prairie dog control were required to gain 1 animal unit mo./yr for the life of the treatment.This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Some Consequences of Competition between Prairie Dogs and Beef CattleJournal of Range Management, 1982
- Food Habits of Cattle on Shortgrass Range in Northeastern ColoradoJournal of Range Management, 1977