Images

Blood is taken from an anaesthetized prairie dog in Wind Cave National Park. 

A prairie dog returns to its burrow in Wind Cave National Park after scientists free it from a trap. The animal is part of a field test to determine the effectiveness of a USGS-developed oral sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV). This prairie dog was previously tagged, and its blood, hair, and whisker samples were taken. 

Wind Cave National Park is one of 34 areas testing a USGS-developed oral vaccine to prevent the spread of plague in prairie dogs. If successful, the sylvatic plague vaccine could help protect endangered black-footed ferrets in the western U.S. because the ferrets rely on prairie dogs for food.

Over 30 organizations and agencies are testing a USGS-developed oral vaccine to prevent the spread of plague in prairie dogs. If successful, the sylvatic plague vaccine could help protect endangered black-footed ferrets in the western U.S. because the ferrets rely on prairie dogs for food.

A prairie dog trapped outside its burrow in Wind Cave National Park waits for a crew of scientists to arrive. The animal is part of a field test to determine the effectiveness of a USGS-developed oral sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV).

Greg Schroeder (National Park Service) and a pair of Auburn University graduate students approach a prairie dog that has been trapped outside its burrow in Wind Cave National Park. The animal is part of a field test to determine the effectiveness of a USGS-developed oral sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV).

National Park Service veterinarian Kevin Castle checks an anaesthetized prairie dog for fleas in Wind Cave National Park. 

This prairie dog was trapped by scientists outside its burrow in Wind Cave National Park as part of a field test to determine the effectiveness of a USGS-developed oral sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV). This animal will be brought to a research van for tagging and blood, whisker, and hair sampling, and then released.

The chin of an anaesthetized prairie dog in Wind Cave National Park is marked before the animal is released back into the wild.

National Park Service veterinarian Kevin Castle places a prairie dog under anesthesia in Wind Cave National Park. He will tag this trapped prairie dog and take hair, whisker, and blood samples before scientists release the animal back into the wild.

Over 30 organizations and agencies are testing a USGS-developed oral vaccine to prevent the spread of plague in prairie dogs. If successful, the sylvatic plague vaccine could help protect endangered black-footed ferrets in the western U.S. because the ferrets rely on prairie dogs for food.

Wild prairie dogs stand alert beside their burrow in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota.

This prairie dog was trapped by scientists outside its burrow in Wind Cave National Park as part of a field test to determine the effectiveness of a USGS-developed oral sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV). This animal will be brought to a research van for tagging and blood, whisker, and hair sampling, and then released.

Over 30 organizations and agencies are testing a USGS-developed oral vaccine to prevent the spread of plague in prairie dogs. If successful, the sylvatic plague vaccine could help protect endangered black-footed ferrets in the western U.S. because the ferrets rely on prairie dogs for food.

An anaesthetized prairie dog is tagged in Wind Cave National Park. 

This global geologic map of Mars, which records the distribution of geologic units and landforms on the planet's surface through time, is based on unprecedented variety, quality, and quantity of remotely sensed data acquired since the Viking Orbiters.

Photograph showing storm runoff in a concrete-lined channel in Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 14, 2018.

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2020–5058

USGS scientist Ren Thompson (in yellow) explaining the geology of Wild and scenic Rivers to the astronauts and fellow instructors and NASA staff.

In this image from the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin may be seen in the center of the image.

In this view from the Washington Monument, the U.S. Department of Commerce building may be seen in the center of the image. The Federal Triangle is to the right.

In this view from the Washington Monument, the National Mall can be seen facing west. This includes the World War II Memorial, the Reflecting Pool, and the Lincoln Memorial in the center; the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial to the left; and the Constitution Gardens to the right.