Nearly 50 years ago they vanished from Arizona’s landscape, but thanks to a multi-partner reintroduction effort, black-tailed prairie dogs are making a comeback.

Seventy-four black-tailed prairie dogs captured at the Ladder Ranch in New Mexico were released recently in the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area near Sonoita. The reintroduction seeks to repopulate these animals where they once existed.

"Black-tailed prairie dogs are a critical keystone species in Arizona, maintaining grasslands for other animals to forage and serving as important prey for eagles and hawks,” said Bill Van Pelt, the program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Because of the far-reaching effect they have on other species, successful re-establishment would benefit the whole ecosystem by maintaining species diversity.”

The animals used to re-establish black-tailed prairie dogs were chosen based on their similar genetics to the population that previously lived here.

Acclimation cages were used to prevent the animals from dispersing too quickly upon release and to allow them to adjust to their new environment. The animals will burrow out of the acclimation cages and establish a network of tunnels.

This initial reintroduction site will be used to evaluate and modify the methods employed to reintroduce prairie dogs. When the population is stable, Game and Fish plans to re-establish the species in up to five additional sites in Southern Arizona to assist the national and international conservation effort and preclude the need for listing as part of the Endangered Species Act.

The reintroduction is an effort by Game and Fish and the state Land Department. Volunteer support for the site preparation was provided by Sky Island Alliance, Animal Defense League and the Sierra Club.

Black-tailed prairie dogs are one of Arizona's two native prairie dog species. The other species, found in Northern Arizona, is the Gunnison’s prairie dog. The black-tailed prairie dog was the most widely distributed of the five prairie dog species and were commonly found in southeastern Arizona. Poisoning and habitat fragmentation reduced their numbers over the last 150 years.

Black-tailed prairie dogs are approximately 15 inches long and weigh 2-3 pounds. The tan animals have black-tipped tails, are highly social, and live in coteries or family units. Family groups live close together and form larger colonies or towns.