White-tailed Prairie Dog at sunset – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
March means spring to me and there are signs of spring that I look for. The first of year sighting of a White-tailed Prairie Dog is a sign of spring for me.
I don’t see White-tailed Prairie Dogs locally though and to look for them it means I have to travel. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic I haven’t traveled outside of my local area for over a year.
I photographed this White-tailed Prairie Dog at sunset in March of 2015 on the wind-swept Aquarius Plateau of Utah. There was a small colony of prairie dogs that weren’t too far from the edge of the narrow dirt road that I was on. I had gone to the plateau to look for Greater Sage-Grouse and finding the prairie dogs was an added joy.
Photographing the White-tailed Prairie Dogs in the fading light was a bit challenging. I didn’t mind though, I would have stayed and photographed them in a pouring rain or temps below zero. That is just how thrilled I was to find them.
Every time I see prairie dogs I am reminded of when me and Beau, my Springer Spaniel, drove to the Western U.S. in 2001 to start a new life. We came across our first prairie dogs at a rest area in Wyoming. Beau had never seen them before and he got so excited that his stubby, little tail wagged at 90 mph. I believe that Beau thought they were little dogs and that he wanted to play with them. I even had trouble getting Beau back into my Jeep when it was time to get back on the road and he was an extremely well behaved dog. I lost my sweet Beau to a brain tumor about 7 months later. I can’t see these little “dogs” now without thinking of him.
Life is good. It tugs at my heart at times, but it is still good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my White-tailed Prairie Dog photos plus facts and information about this species.
A bittersweet memory of your dog Beau. I enjoy watching these little prairie dogs when I visit Utah’s Hogle Zoo. Nice image!
Hopefully at this time next year you’ll be out in the field photographing these cute little animals again! Your memory of Beau was so beautiful….Springers are such terrific dogs …ah, how w3 love our faithful companions!
Mia,
It is Joan Clark from Clayton, NC who had the home in Banner Elk, NC. I wanted you to know we sold the mountain home after so many years as driving the 4.5hrs got to be such a drag. So I brought to our home here in eastern NC the beautiful owl that so reminds me of you each time I walk up our staircase. I need to send you a photo of it and me sometime. So sorry to see your little buddy passed. We too lost our parrot Cody that we had when you and I first met. He accidently flew out a door that was not supposed to be opened when he was out. He died in cold bad rainy weather. We have another one now and are extra careful about doors. His name is Max and he is a character. I am so happy I found your blog and was able to catch up with you again. Your presence is in our home and always will be. I have so enjoyed looking at your new photos and again, so proud of the NATGEO chosen photographs you did !
Hugs, Joan & Jim Clark
Of course you think of Beau when you see them – and both warm your heart (while simultaneously tugging on it).
So sorry for the loss of a dear pet, especially when starting out new.
I used to watch a couple of different colonies around the southern suburbs of Denver. I enjoyed them immensely, but always held my breath when a coyote came trotting into their territory. So many people dismiss them, some people hate them (ranchers on horseback because of the danger of a broken leg), and i know they carry plague sometimes, but i think they have a place in the West. I do miss the West. Thanks, Mia.
Prairie Dogs, magnificent little animals. Beautiful photo Mia