Colonies amass below Wainwright

Photo By Staff Sgt. Derek M. Smith | From their tunnel entrances, prairie dogs will stand upright for a better vantage point or to communicate more effectively. This method of positioning has come to be known as “prairie dogging.” While effective for the small mammal, it may not represent a suitable technique for most soldiers training during Exercise Maple Resolve 14 here May 5 through June 1. In fact, prairie dogging in a tactical environment may end up being quite messy. Soldiers who use this technique face the possibility of overexposure to enemy forces. Prairie dogging is best left to the prairie dog. During EX MR14, Approximately 5,000 Canadian, British and U.S. troops participated in the cumulating collective training event that validates the Canadian Army’s High Readiness Force for operations assigned to it by the Canadian government through the Chief of Defense Staff.  

WAINWRIGHT, AB, CANADA

05.25.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Derek M. Smith 

326th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

GARRISON WAINWRIGHT, Alberta – They tunnel endlessly underneath the unsuspecting troops who train here, annually. They are the unassuming, seemingly harmless inhabitants of the area. They were here first, and it seems as though they are here to stay.

For service members training during Exercise Maple Resolve 14 (EX MR14), the prairie dog, or ground squirrel, may be a mild curiosity as they scamper through the training and garrison areas, but the unnoticed threat they may present, as well as the example they set, can leave a lasting impression.

During EX MR14, May 5 through June 1, Approximately 5,000 Canadian, British and U.S. troops participated in the cumulating collective training event that validates the Canadian Army’s High Readiness Force for operations assigned to it by the Canadian government through the Chief of Defense Staff. Though, these numbers may pale in comparison to the incalculable population of their furry counterparts.

The prairie dog is a terrestrial ground squirrel that lives in colonies. It derives its name from its vocal bark. Deliberate exterminations have reduced the prairie dog population in some areas due to their competition with domestic livestock for green plants, even in sight of the fact that their excavations aids the soil.

Genuinely shy and unaggressive when approached, their multiple holes present a constant appendage threat to humans who fail to notice burrow entrances. The number of twists and sprains due to prairie dog holes may never be accurately assessed.

From their tunnel entrances, prairie dogs will stand upright for a better vantage point or to communicate more effectively. This method of positioning has come to be known as “prairie dogging.” While effective for the small mammal, it may not represent a suitable technique for most soldiers in the field. In fact, prairie dogging in a tactical environment may end up being quite messy.

Soldiers who use the critter’s technique in the field face the possibility of overexposure to enemy forces. While the prairie dog uses it to great effect, it also possesses almost unnatural reflexes and quickness. Its human counterpart has no such benefit.

International training partners at EX MR14 walk away with many lessons and tactics learned through practice at Garrison Wainwright. The lesson of the prairie dog are merely a side note, but one which can save a life. On tactical missions, prairie dogging is best left to the prairie dog.

• Date Taken: 05.25.2014
• Date Posted: 05.26.2014 14:00
• Story ID: 131097
• Location: WAINWRIGHT, AB, CA