Managing Prairie Dogs on Agricultural Lands

Authors

• Cory Farnsworth, Utah State UniversityFollow
• S. Nicole Frey, Utah State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Factsheet

Publisher

Utah State University Extension

Publication Date

6-25-2026

First Page

1

Last Page

7

Abstract

While prairie dogs are an important species in the region because their burrows provide shelter for many wildlife species, they are also preyed upon by many mammals and birds. However, because of the damage they can cause to cropping and range systems, their populations may occasionally need to be controlled. After you have identified which prairie dog species you are in conflict with and the scope of the damage, you will want to decide how to manage them. This fact sheet provides information on control options and the general ecology of the three prairie dog species in Utah.

Recommended Citation

Farnsworth, C., & Frey, N. (2026). Managing prairie dogs on agricultural lands [Fact sheet]. Utah State University Extension.