Prairie Dog Pete

Illustration of a smiling prairie dog on a white background with black text around the rim.

Native to the grasslands of America, prairie dogs have long been considered pests by farmers who believe them to compete with livestock for resources. In the latter half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, government-initiated poisoning programs greatly reduced prairie dog populations. Kennedy N. Clapp and his wife, residents of Lubbock, Texas, were concerned about the survival of the species and established a prairie dog colony by trapping two pairs of black-tailed prairie dogs. In 1935, Mackenzie Park became a state park, and the colony was moved there.

The colony, known as Prairie Dog Town, quickly became a tourism draw and the city adopted the prairie dog as its mascot. Prairie Dog Pete served as the goodwill ambassador for the colony, with his image being used for promotional material. Clapp was named mayor of Prairie Dog Town in perpetuity, overseeing operations until his death in 1969.