scholarly journals Spacing and Ecology of North American Badgers (Taxidea taxus) in a Prairie-Dog (Cynomys leucurus) Complex

1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Goodrich ◽  
S. W. Buskirk
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Prairie Dog ◽  
Taxidea Taxus ◽  
Cynomys Leucurus

Killing technique of North American badgers preying on Richardson's ground squirrels

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (11) ◽  
pp. 2109-2113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail R Michener ◽  
Andrew N Iwaniuk
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Thoracic Cavity ◽  
Internal Organs ◽  
Small Prey ◽  
Taxidea Taxus ◽  
Spermophilus Richardsonii ◽  
Southern Alberta

Carcasses of 13 Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsonii) cached during autumn by North American badgers (Taxidea taxus) in southern Alberta, Canada, were inspected to determine the capture and killing technique. Regardless of prey size (251–651 g) or torpor status (normothermic or torpid), badgers killed ground squirrels with a single grasping bite directed dorsally or laterally to the thorax. The canines and third upper incisors of badgers generally bruised the skin without puncturing it, but caused extensive hematomas on the thoracic musculature and penetrated between the ribs, with associated breakage of ribs and hemorrhaging in the thoracic cavity. Internal organs and bones other than ribs were usually not damaged. Thoracic bites, rather than nape or throat bites, are used by several mustelids, including North American badgers, when capturing small prey (<10% of the predator's mass).

SEASON OF DELTAMETHRIN APPLICATION AFFECTS FLEA AND PLAGUE CONTROL IN WHITE-TAILED PRAIRIE DOG (CYNOMYS LEUCURUS) COLONIES, COLORADO, USA

2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel W. Tripp ◽  
Sean P. Streich ◽  
Danielle A. Sack ◽  
Daniel J. Martin ◽  
Karen A. Griffin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prairie Dog ◽  
Cynomys Leucurus

Enzymes of Adenylate Metabolism and Their Role in Hibernation of the White-Tailed Prairie Dog, Cynomys leucurus

2000 ◽  
Vol 376 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara E. English ◽  
Kenneth B. Storey
Keyword(s):  
Prairie Dog ◽  
Cynomys Leucurus

Winter activity patterns of the North American badger (Taxidea taxus) at its northwestern periphery

2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-210
Author(s):  
Stephen A Symes ◽  
Richard Klafki ◽  
Roger Packham ◽  
Karl W Larsen
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Winter Climate ◽  
Taxidea Taxus ◽  
The North ◽  
Remote Cameras ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Winter Activity ◽  
Winter Foraging ◽  
American Badger

Abstract The North American badger (Taxidea taxus) is a nonhibernating carnivore that occurs in areas with highly seasonal climates, such as in Canada where the animal reaches its northern limits. There, winter climate is harsh and conventional habitat is limited and patchy, possibly leading to additional energetic constraints. Using radiotelemetry and remote cameras, we documented winter activities of 16 badgers (12 females, 4 males) between 2007 and 2011 in British Columbia, at the northwestern periphery of the species’ range. In comparison to their summer ecology, the animals reduced home range sizes by up to 98% and showed fidelity to particular burrows. Burrow fidelity was variable (mean 27 days; range 0–108) and coincided with reduction in body temperatures, suggesting the onset of torpor. Despite lengthy use of the same burrow, badgers emerged frequently and conducted excursions that appeared to represent foraging behavior. Burrow emergence was not related to ambient temperature or snow depth; rather, it was best explained by the amount of days elapsed since the start of winter. Despite these trends, winter activity also was variable among individual badgers. It may be that limited fat reserves and higher energetic costs in northwestern ranges require winter foraging activities.

scholarly journals Prairie dogs increase fitness by killing interspecific competitors

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1827) ◽  
pp. 20160144 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Hoogland ◽  
Charles R. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Competition ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Prairie Dogs ◽  
Serial Killers ◽  
Prairie Dog ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
First Case ◽  
Cynomys Leucurus ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Interspecific Killing

Interspecific competition commonly selects for divergence in ecology, morphology or physiology, but direct observation of interspecific competition under natural conditions is difficult. Herbivorous white-tailed prairie dogs ( Cynomys leucurus ) employ an unusual strategy to reduce interspecific competition: they kill, but do not consume, herbivorous Wyoming ground squirrels ( Urocitellus elegans ) encountered in the prairie dog territories. Results from a 6-year study in Colorado, USA, revealed that interspecific killing of ground squirrels by prairie dogs was common, involving 47 different killers; 19 prairie dogs were serial killers in the same or consecutive years, and 30% of female prairie dogs killed at least one ground squirrel over their lifetimes. Females that killed ground squirrels had significantly higher annual and lifetime fitness than non-killers, probably because of decreased interspecific competition for vegetation. Our results document the first case of interspecific killing of competing individuals unrelated to predation (IK) among herbivorous mammals in the wild, and show that IK enhances fitness for animals living under natural conditions.

Molt in the North American Badger, Taxidea taxus

1975 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 921-924 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Long
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Taxidea Taxus ◽  
The North ◽  
American Badger

Observations on Reproduction in the White-Tailed Prairie-Dog (Cynomys leucurus)

1929 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 209 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. Stockard
Keyword(s):  
Prairie Dog ◽  
Cynomys Leucurus

scholarly journals Carnivora atnd their larger mammalian prey species invenory and abundance in the Janos-Nuevo Casas Grandes praire dog complex, Chihuahua.

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rurik H. List Sánchez ◽  
David W. Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Prairie Dog ◽  
Casas Grandes ◽  
Kangaroo Rats ◽  
Taxidea Taxus ◽  
Kit Fox ◽  
Carnivore Species ◽  
Vulpes Macrotis ◽  
Lepus Californicus ◽  
North Western

Abstract. This study examined the carnivore species composition and abundance in the Janos-Nuevo Casas Grandes prairie dog complex of north-western Chihuahua, Mexico. Thirteen species of carnivores were recorded in habitats including prairie dog towns, grassland, mesquite scrub and riparian vegetation. From artificial scent-stations and spotlight transects the most abundant carnivore species appeared to be the kit fox Vulpes macrotis and the coyote Canis latrans. Striped/hooded skunks (Mephitis spp) and American badgers (Taxidea taxus) were also common. No significant differences were found between the abundance of kit foxes or coyotes on prairie dog towns or grassland; but skunks were more abundant on grasslands. The abundance of hares (Lepus californicus), rabbit (Sylvilagus audubonii), and kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spp) was also estimated; hares and kangaroo rats were more abundant in the grassland, whilst rabbits were more abundant in prairie dog towns.Resumen. Se estudió la composición de espeices de carnívoros en el complejo de perros llaneros Janos-Nuevo Casas Grandes, en el noroeste de Chihuahua, México. Se registraron 13 especies de carnívoros en los siguientes hábitats; colonias de perros lIaneros, pastizal, matorral de mezquite y vegetación riparia. Por medio de estaciones olfativas y transectos de lampareo se determinó que la zorra norteña Vulpes macrotis y el coyote Canis latrans fueron los más abundantes. Los zorrillos (Mephitis spp) y tejones (Taxidea taxus) también fueron comunes. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la abundancia de zorras norteñas o coyotes entre colonias de perros llaneros o pastizal. Los zorrillos fueron más abundantes en el pastizal. También se estimó la abundancia de liebres (Lepus californicus), conejos (Sylvilagus audubonii), y ratas canguro (Dipodomys spp); las liebres y ratas canguro son más abundantes en el pastizal, mientras los conejos son mas abundantes en las colonias de perros lIaneros.Key words: Carnivore abundance, Chihuahua, Mexico, prairie dog, scent-station, spotlighting.

scholarly journals A Novel Retrovirus (Gunnison’s Prairie Dog Retrovirus) Associated With Thymic Lymphoma in Gunnison’s Prairie Dogs in Colorado, USA

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 606
Author(s):  
Molly D. Butler ◽  
Karen Griffin ◽  
Connie D. Brewster ◽  
Marylee L. Kapuscinski ◽  
Mark D. Stenglein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Cynomys Ludovicianus ◽  
Prairie Dogs ◽  
Prairie Dog ◽  
Thymic Lymphoma ◽  
Type D ◽  
Cynomys Gunnisoni ◽  
Cynomys Leucurus ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Gunnison's Prairie Dogs

As part of research and wildlife disease surveillance efforts, we performed necropsy examinations of 125 free-ranging (n = 114) and captive (n = 11) prairie dogs in Colorado from 2009 to 2017. From these cases, we identified three cases of thymic lymphoma in free-ranging Gunnison’s prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni), and we identified a novel retroviral sequence associated with these tumors. The viral sequence is 7700 nucleotides in length and exhibits a genetic organization that is consistent with the characteristics of a type D betaretrovirus. The proposed name of this virus is Gunnison’s prairie dog retrovirus (GPDRV). We screened all 125 prairie dogs for the presence of GPDRV using PCR with envelope-specific primers and DNA extracted from spleen samples. Samples were from Gunnison’s prairie dogs (n = 59), black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) (n = 40), and white-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys leucurus) (n = 26). We identified GPDRV in a total of 7/125 (5.6%) samples including all three of the prairie dogs with thymic lymphoma, as well as spleen from an additional four Gunnison’s prairie dogs with no tumors recognized at necropsy. None of the GPDRV-negative Gunnison’s prairie dogs had thymic lymphomas. We also identified a related, apparently endogenous retroviral sequence in all prairie dog samples. These results suggest that GPDRV infection may lead to development of thymic lymphoma in Gunnison’s prairie dogs.

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