Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
The wide open prairies of the Midwest are the home of two mammals that live in close contact with each other. But it’s the contrast between the size of these two creatures that cannot help but catch our attention. The male American Bison can weigh up to 2,599 pounds while an adult Black-tailed Prairie Dog will be lucky to weigh in at 48 ounces. Yet for all their differences, they seem to peacefully coexist. Frequently when two species are found in the same area the success of their habitation centers around the fact that they feed on different organisms and as a result are not in competition with each other. Yet with these two, there are marked similarities in their diet.
So different, yet each in its own way contributes to the well-being of the other. The prairie dogs burrowing actions enhance water filtration improving the quality of the soil which in turn leads to increased plant productivity. The grazing of the bison promotes the growth of a diverse plant community by preventing dominant species from monopolizing nutrients and water. In addition, the bison’s dung contributes to the fertility of the soil.
This same kind of mutually beneficial living is encouraged by Peter as he addressed members of the early church: “Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well. If you have the gift of speaking, preach God’s message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever.” (1 Peter 4:10-11 CEV) If the rodent and the ungulate can do so, it would seem we should be able to accomplish this as well.