Use of visual stimuli increases count estimates for prairie dogs

Abstract

ABSTRACTThroughout North America, all 5 species of prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) have experienced drastic population declines over the past century, which has subsequently affected a host of affiliated species. Tools and techniques used to monitor prairie dogs have important implications for the management and conservation of grassland ecosystems. Behavioral responses by prairie dogs to predators may offer an opportunity to improve techniques that rely on visually based survey techniques by increasing the visibility of individuals. We evaluated whether the use of a visual stimulus resembling a common predator could increase the number of white‐tailed prairie dogs (C. leucurus) observed during visual count surveys conducted in June and July of 2017 in Wyoming, USA. We designed a visual stimulus consisting of a remote‐controlled toy car fitted with a badger (Taxidea taxus) pelt. We found counts of prairie dogs increased from 14.2 (95% CI = 10.4–18.0) to 32.6 (95% CI = 24.1–41.1) individuals/4‐ha plot when this visual stimulus was deployed. Our top model predicted counts to be 2.3 times greater when a visual stimulus was used. The increase in counts elicited by use of a visual stimulus may therefore improve the accuracy and efficiency of traditional visual counts and other visually based monitoring techniques for prairie dogs. By enabling managers to take advantage of behavioral responses, use of a visual stimulus as described here could aid efforts to monitor and manage prairie dog populations and consequently conserve prairie ecosystems. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.