Prairie Dogs appear to be cute ground squirrels, but they are much more. They are keystone species for their habitats, essential in keeping balance in the grasslands. Prairie Dogs are food for Coyote, Badger, Raptors and Eagles and notably one of the only food sources for the Black Footed Ferret, whose numbers are dwindling. Known for their complex burrow system, or towns, that can span acres, their burrows provide spaces not only for them but other animals as well, such as the Burrowing Owl. By moving soil about they improve the soil quality adding to nutrients that help produce grasses and wildflowers, plant improving biodiversity, pollinator and bird populations. By maintaining grasses at a shorter level due to their munching, large herbivores such as Bison are also drawn to their range.
Though Prairie Dogs may seem like a menace in your garden or the golf course, it is probably because those spaces used to be grassland. American grasslands are disappearing as fast as the Brazilian rainforest, a staggering 2 million acres per year, mostly due to human development and industrial agriculture. Because Prairie Dogs are keystone species supporting them supports everything else - from native plants, birds, pollinators and other mammals. 10% of proceeds go to Prairie Protection Colorado.
12″h x 9″w, edition of 100 on Rives BFK, unframed.
Print Edition: Prairie Dog
This piece is a "relief engraving.” It is in the block print or relief family of printmaking, which refers to two surfaces, one lower than the other, so that the highest surface prints. I hand carve each image with small but tough tools called burins, or gravers. The remaining surface is rolled with ink and pressed through the printing press. Each print taken from the plate is part of an edition, and numbered. My limited editions are always under 100 since they are inked and cranked by hand on my printing press. Printed on 100% Cotton Rag Paper.
