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Prairie dogs are dubbed a keystone species for good reason because the burrows they dig are used by dozens of other animals, from insects and spiders to rattlesnakes, salamanders, owls and more.
About the author
Ph.D. zoologist Dorothy Hinshaw Patent uses her scientific training to write books about the natural world for young readers. Dorothy is the author of more than 100 books for children, her most recent being Pika Country: Climate Change at the Top of the World. Dorothy is the recipient of many awards, including the Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Nonfiction, the New York State Reading Association Charlotte Award, and the Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Pioneer Award. Dorothy lives in Kauai, Hawaii. To find out more about Dorothy, visit her website at www.DorothyHinshawPatent.com.William Munoz's photographs have graced the pages of more than 100 picture books. His work encompasses a wide range of subjects from guide dogs and farm animals to grizzly bears; pigeons, osprey and bald eagles; prairie, homesteading and fire ecology; the Lewis and Clark Trail; and biodiversity and the forces that shape nature. He lives in St. Ignatius, Montana.
Summary
Prairie dogs are dubbed a keystone species for good reason because the burrows they dig are used by dozens of other animals, from insects and spiders to rattlesnakes, salamanders, owls and more.
The highly endangered black-footed ferret depends almost completely on prairie dogs for food, and may also live in their abandoned burrows. In addition, prairie dog activity makes the grass areas around their burrows especially nourishing for grazing animals like bison and pronghorn. With up to 150 species associated with prairie dogs, this keystone species plays a pivotal role in keeping the prairie healthy and thriving.
Other books in this series: AT HOME WITH THE GOPHER TORTOISE: THE STORY OF A KEYSTONE SPECIES, AT HOME WITH THE BEAVER: THE STORY OF A KEYSTONE SPECIES
