The celebration will include an art contest open to K-12 students in the local area.
BRYCE, UT – Utah Prairie Dog Day returns to Bryce Canyon National Park on Thursday, May 9. This annual celebration of one of the park’s most unique animals features 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 Utah Prairie Dog art contest open to all students kindergarten through 12th grade in Garfield, Wayne, and Kane counties. Art contest submissions will be judged by park staff, and the winner in each grade will receive a $50 gift certificate to the Bryce Canyon Association Visitor Center bookstore. The grand prize winner will also be featured on the 2024 Utah Prairie Dog Day poster.
Entries must show the Utah Prairie Dog in its natural environment, measure 11 inches by 17 inches or smaller, and can be created using any artistic medium. Artists should include their name and grade level on the back of the artwork. Entries can be mailed to Bryce Canyon National Park at P.O. Box 640201, Bryce, Utah and should be postmarked by April 5. Entries can also be scanned and emailed to the park at [email protected]. All submissions will be displayed for the public on Utah Prairie Dog Day.
Teachers interested in attending Utah Prairie Dog Day with their classes can apply for free entrance to the park by following the instructions at the park’s Academic Fee Waiver page at go.nps.gov/BryceFeeWaivers.
A year-round inhabitant of Bryce Canyon’s high plateau meadows, the Utah 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.
– National Park Service
Feature image caption: Utah Prairie Dog Day returns to Bryce Canyon National Park May 9, 2024. Courtesy of BCNP.
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National Park Service
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.