A Modest Proposal

A thirteen-lined ground squirrel stretches from toe to toe like a housecat while venturing out after a rainstorm. Meet Ohio's prairie dog. They live in social colonies where they collectively keep watch for predators. And they're awesome. I think it's time we dedicate a place in Ohio for them.

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels are named for their pattern of lines and spots that help them blend in with the dappled shadows on short-grass prairies. They have one of nature's longest hibernations, spending nearly six months in their underground burrows. And they're tiny!

 

These little squirrels are so small that they can't even see above the mowed grass. It's easy to overlook them. But there are precious few public places in Ohio where you can see them.

About an hour north of Yellowstone, Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park isn't much to look at. It's just a patch of weeds along the highway with a small parking lot and a couple picnic tables. But it's dedicated to an animal that doesn't get much attention in a state that's home to wolves and bears: the black-tailed prairie dog. If you get the chance, it is absolutely worth the effort to leave America's premiere wildlife park to come see them. Montana recognized that people have an affinity for these little squirrels.

If ever there were an animal in Ohio worthy of more attention, it's these charming ground squirrels. Like other squirrels, the babies love to chase each other around and play. They have particular habitat requirements, preferring short-grass prairies with clover and other native grasses — or in this case, soccer fields. And the fields must remain free of seasonal flooding throughout the year.

Luckily, we seem to have that habitat in abundance in Ohio, where soccer, football and baseball fields are plentiful.

These little squirrels are so much fun to watch. They bark to each other across the fields and race for cover when a hawk or bicyclist zips by.

These little prairie dogs are listed as common in Ohio. Still, most people in southwest Ohio have never seen one. Too often it seems we only take steps to celebrate our natural heritage when we're at risk of losing it.

Ecotourism is a $25 billion industry in the United States. A dedicated park for Ohio's prairie dogs surely would be a summertime attraction.

These little ground squirrels are found at Joyce Park in Fairfield. I wonder if Fairfield knows what a wonderful natural treasure they have?

It would take just one thoughtless act to wipe out this colony. So it's no guarantee that future generations will be able to spend time with these adorable creatures. That's all the more reason to make room for these little guys now before it's too late. What do you think?