Burrow on over to Bryce Canyon for Utah Prairie Dog Day 2024

News Release Date:
April 24, 2024

Contact:Macie Monahan

Utah Prairie Dog Day will return on Thursday, May 9 and feature ranger-led prairie dog viewing, family-friendly activity booths and a special keynote presentation by David Eads, an ecologist with the U.S. Geologic Survey. The event is free with park admission. For a detailed schedule, please visit go.nps.gov/UtahPrairieDogDay.

"Utah Prairie Dog Day is an opportunity to learn about an animal found in no other national park," said park wildlife biologist Macie Monahan, "It's also a story of recovery and survival.The cooperative efforts between Bryce Canyon National Park, state, and federal public lands agencies along with the park's local community have helped protect not only the Utah prairie dog, but the meadow ecosystems that depend upon it. We think that's cause for celebration!"

To help promote the event, the park held an art contest open to students in Garfield, Wayne, and Kane counties. The park received artwork submissions from students depicting the Utah prairie dog in its native environment. All artwork submissions will be on display at the Visitor Center on May 9. Artwork by Naomi Milby, a 5th grader from Panguitch, is featured on this year's poster.

Teachers interested in attending Utah Prairie Dog Day with their classes can apply for free entrance to the park by following the instructions at the park's Academic Fee Waiver page at go.nps.gov/BryceFeeWaivers.

A year-round inhabitant of Bryce Canyon's high plateau meadows, the Utah prairie dog is a critical part of the park's meadow ecosystem. Utah prairie dogs are considered a "keystone species" as they serve a variety of important functions including aerating soil and promoting plant growth. Over 200 other species have been associated with prairie dog colonies, including wildlife that depend upon prairie dog activity for both food and habitat. The Utah prairie dog has been listed under the Endangered Species Act since 1973 and was successfully reintroduced to the park in the 1980s.

More information on the Utah Prairie Dog can be found online at go.nps.gov/UtahPrairieDog.The park thanks the Bryce Canyon Association, Bureau of Land Management, Dixie National Forest, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geologic Survey for their involvement and support of this event.

For more information on the park or Utah Prairie Dog Day please visit the park's website at www.nps.gov/brycecanyon, or contact the park by e-mail at [email protected], or phone at 435-834-5322.

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