Prairie Dogs and Predators Quiz Game

Game Rules Teams will alternate turns answering questions If the team does not know the answer to the question they can either pass the question over to the other team or challenge the other team to a physical challenge If neither team can answer a challenge will decide the winner All questions are worth one point

Prairie Dogs What species of Prairie Dog is being reintroduced to the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge?

Answer Gunnison’s Prairie Dog There are five species of prairie dog the black tailed, the white tailed, the Utah, and Mexican prairie dogs.

Predators What animal is the world’s fastest digger?

Answer Badger!

Grassland Ecosystem What percentage of the earth’s land did grasslands once cover?

Answer Grasslands once covered more than 42 percent. Now over 90 percent habitat destruction has occurred and less than 1 percent of natural grasslands are left in the United States as they have mostly been converted into agricultural land.

Fish and Wildlife Service What year was the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge founded?

Answer 1973 It was formerly ranch land. The prairie dog reintroduction is part of the effort to restore the grassland.

Prairie Dogs Where do prairie dogs get their water in the hot dry grassland?

Answer From their food! Prairie dogs do not need to drink much water, they are well adapted to their dry habitat and use water very efficiently. Their water comes from the vegetation in their diet.

Predators When are badgers most active?

Answer Badgers are nocturnal which means they are active at night.

Grassland Ecosystem How much precipitation does the Sevilleta National Wildlife refuge get annually?

Answer 356 mm or about 14.3 inches Compared to the desert which gets 250 mm or about 9.8 inches Or the rainforest which gets Over 2000mm or 78.7 inches

Fish and Wildlife Service How many different types of plants are there on the Sevilleta?

Answer Over 1200 plants species 89 mammal species 225 bird species 58 reptile species 15 amphibian species

Prairie Dogs What percentage of their former range do prairie dogs now inhabit?

Answer Only about 2 percent

Predators When black-footed ferret populations hit an all time low in 1987 how many ferrets remained?

Answer Only 18 individuals! The population has since recovered to approximately 1000 in the wild but black-footed ferrets are still considered extremely rare and endangered.

Grassland Ecosystem What is unique about the Orxy found in parts of southern New Mexico including the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge.

Answer The Orxy is from Africa. It is an invasive species that was brought to New Mexico in the late 1960s. While only 93 individuals were introduced their population is now estimated to be between 3000 and 6000.

Fish and Wildlife Service What is the name of the river that runs through the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge?

Answer The Rio Grande

Prairie Dogs How much do prairie dogs typically weigh?

Answer 1.5 to 3 lbs

Predators How fast can a coyote run?

Answer Up to 40 mph!

Grassland Ecosystems What is the state flower of New Mexico?

Answer Yucca

Prairie Dogs What is the typical lifespan of a prairie dog?

Answer 3-5 years in the wild

Predators How wide is a Golden Eagle’s wing span?

Answer 6 to 7.5 feet wide!