Utah Prairie Dog Day Returns to Bryce Canyon on May 11

No celebration of Bryce Canyon’s centennial year would be complete without a special day for one of its keystone species. Prairie Dog Day will return on Thursday, May 11 and feature ranger-led prairie dog viewing, family-friendly activity booths, and a special keynote presentation. For a detailed schedule of events, please visit go.nps.gov/UtahPrairieDogDay.

To help promote the event, the park is holding a prairie dog art contest open to all students kindergarten through 12th grade in Garfield, Wayne, and Kane counties. Art contest submissions will be judged in three different grade categories, and the winner in each category will receive a $50 gift certificate to the Bryce Canyon Association Visitor Center bookstore. The grand prize winner will also be featured on the 2023 poster.

For more information on the park, 2023 centennial events, or the Utah Prairie Dog festival please visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/brca, or contact the park by e-mail at [email protected], or phone at 435-834-5322.

Why celebrate the prairie dog?

A year-round inhabitant of Bryce Canyon’s high plateau meadows, the Prairie Dog is a critical part of the park’s ecosystem. Utah Prairie Dogs are considered a “keystone species” as they serve a variety of important functions in maintaining southern Utah’s meadows including aerating soil and promoting plant growth. Over 200 other species have been associated with prairie dog colonies, including wildlife that depend upon prairie dog activity for both food and habitat. More information on the Utah Prairie Dog can be found online at go.nps.gov/UtahPrairieDog.

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