Smithsonian National Zoo in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Prairie Dogs
Smithsonian Scientists At Work
| | With the help of National Zoo scientists, captive-bred ferrets are now being released into the wild! | |
Home on the range?
In the early 1900s, as farmers and ranchers moved west, black-tailed prairie dog habitat was converted into crops and grassland for cattle.
Today, only small, scattered populations of prairie dogs are found mainly in protected parks and wildlife refuges.
The decline of the prairie dog threatens many other species. Their burrows act as homes for owls and badgers, and prairie dogs are a critical food source for many endangered animals.
Did you know?
Black-footed ferrets were once a main predator of prairie dogs. The ferrets lived in prairie dog burrows and hunted at night. So when the number of prairie dogs fell, the black-footed ferret population nearly died out.
Erected by Smithsonian Institution.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.
Location. 38° 55.707′ N, 77° 2.845′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Smithsonian National Zoo. It is on Olmsted Walk. On the grounds of the Smithsonian National Zoological
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Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: How to Drink Coffee and Save Birds (a few steps from this marker); Lions and Tigers (a few steps from this marker); Olmsted Walk (within shouting distance of this marker); Ostrich / Domestic Horse (within shouting distance of this marker); A Fiberglass Film Star (within shouting distance of this marker); Black-footed Ferret / Giraffe (within shouting distance of this marker); Bald Eagle (within shouting distance of this marker); Maned Wolf / Przewalski's Horse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
Other
More about this marker. To learn even more about prairie dogs and ferrets, visit our exhibit in the Small Mammal House.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 317 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 17, 2017, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
