 Dr. John Hoogland has been studying the ecology and social behavior of prairie dogs under natural conditions for the last 36 years. He studied black-tailed prairie dogs at Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota for 16 years; then studied Gunnison’s prairie dogs at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona for 7 years; and then spied on Utah prairie dogs at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah for 10 years. Currently, Dr. Hoogland is in his third year of long-term research with white-tailed prairie dogs at the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado.
Through long-term research with marked individuals, Dr. Hoogland is investigating multiple mating by females, incest, killing of potential offspring by males, and alarm calling. Dr. Hoogland’s research under natural conditions is accomplished by tracking the survivorship and reproductive success of marked individuals over time. Results have led to a better understanding of several pivotal issues in behavioral ecology and population biology. Some of these issues include competition, infanticide, and inbreeding.
Denver Zoo has supported Dr. Hoogland’s research since 1999.
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