Abundance estimates of Gunnison’s prairie dogs compared to the number of active burrows

Reliable estimates of prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) population size and distribution are critical for assessing the status of prairie dogs and for selecting sites to reintroduce black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes). The density of active prairie dog burrows has commonly been used as an index of prairie dog abundance. Indices derived from active burrow counts were developed for black-tailed (C. ludovicianus) and white-tailed (C. leucurus) prairie dogs, but their efficacy has not been evaluated for all prairie dog species and studies affirming their validity with robust abundance estimators are few. We indexed or estimated the abundance of Gunnison's prairie dogs (C. gunnisoni) in the Aubrey Valley, Arizona, USA, in 2006 at 2 different time periods using 4 different methods—maximum above ground counts (MAGC), minimum number known alive (MNKA), capture-mark-recapture (CMR), and mark-resight—and compared these estimates to active burrow counts in 2005 and 2006. We found no positive relationship between active burrow counts and any abundance estimators. Mark-resight estimates of abundance were greater than the MNKA and were positively correlated with both the MNKA (r² = 0.30) and CMR estimates (r² = 0.49). Both CMR estimates and MAGC were typically below the MNKA and therefore biased low. Our results indicated that more rigorous estimation methods may be necessary to accurately estimate prairie dog abundance and assess habitat quality for ferret conservation.