About Prairie Dogs

About Prairie Dogs

Scientific Name: Cynomys ludovicianus

Habitat: Found on plains and plateaus of North America from southern Saskatchewan northern Mexico.

Description: Heavy-bodied, football-sized animal with a black tipped tail. Prairie dogs have large eyes, short tails, and a brownish-tan pelt. There are five species of prairie dogs in North America. The Utah prairie dog is listed as threatened and the Mexican prairie dog is listed as endangered. The other two species are the white-tailed and Gunnison prairie dog, which are not listed.

Profile: The black-tailed prairie dog is not a dog, but a stout, burrowing ground squirrel named for its barking call. Several million "dogs" live in the western U.S. in ten states: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. The black-tailed prairie dog has been completely wiped out in Arizona. Half of the U.S. prairie dog population lives in South Dakota, with the second and third largest segments of the U.S. population inhabiting Montana and Wyoming.

The dogs excavate elaborate systems of burrows in heavily grazed, flat prairie lands and create "towns" comprised of thousands of dogs. The burrows are easily identified because of the large mound of dirt surrounding the entrance, providing a vantage point to spot approaching predators as well as flood protection. Their lifespan is typically 4-5 years in the wild.

Prairie dogs have a complex social structure. The towns are composed of "wards," each of which contains "coteries" or family groups. A coterie is made up of an adult male, one to four breeding females and their offspring younger than two years of age. With the emergence of young prairie dogs, coteries can number as many as 40 individuals. Underground tunnels connect to special-use rooms such as bedrooms, nurseries and latrines. These tunnels are used for shelter by many other prairie wildlife species, including snakes, toads, insects, birds and mammals.

Prairie dogs become sexually mature in the second February or March following birth. Breeding season along the Front Range starts in March and lasts until early May. Prairie dogs normally have one litter per year and of one to eight young. Pups emerge at about 41 days and will stay with their natal coteries for a minimum of two years. Prairie dogs are herbivores and feed on a variety of vegetation including grasses and forbs and to a lesser extent, seeds and insects. Grasses and other vegetation are clipped close to the ground to allow for a greater range of sight.

 Prairie dogs have a sophisticated form of communication. Humans have been able to identify up to 11 different calls. They use physical contact, such as nuzzling and kissing as well as vocalization, such as barking a warning, to communicate. Members of a prairie dog town take turns keeping watch. If the sentry sees danger he will call out a warning and the community will dive into their burrows and wait for the "all clear" call before venturing out again.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 March 2006 01:57