Another win for the Infiltration Team, as Biologist Jim Laurie refers to the many creatures that help soil hold air and water. For decades, prairie dogs were treated as pests, but new research shows how these small burrowers help keep prairies alive: their digging improves water infiltration, reduces erosion, stores more soil carbon, and helps prevent grasslands from turning into shrub-dominated scrub. In some areas, their presence can even improve forage for cattle.
Posted: August 15, 2026