Prairie Dogs of the Plains

Prairie dogs once inhabited the Great Plains from southern Saskatchewan to northern Mexico. The original French and Spanish explorers called them "little dogs" because their calls sound like barking dogs, but they are rodents. They are members of the squirrel family, closely related to ground squirrels, chipmunks, woodchucks and marmots.

There are five different species of prairie dogs, each very similar to another.

Named for their bark-like warning call and black-tipped tail, prairie dogs average 14 to 17 inches in total length and weigh 1 to 3 pounds.

A prairie dog colony or "town" consists of a large number of closely spaced burrows, each comprising an elaborate network of interconnecting tunnels and multiple entrance holes. The primary prairie dog social unit is the "coterie," an acre or so of territory with 50 to 60 burrow entrances that is occupied by a single family group. A coterie typically consists of one adult male, several adult females, and their offspring.

Prairie dogs mainly eat flowering plants and grasses.

Prairie dogs build up large stores of body fat to carry them through the fall and winter months. The Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs of Wyoming are the only species which do not hibernate.
danger has passed.

National Zoo Prairie Dogs...

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A Close View of a Fat Black-Tailed Pr...

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Abandoned Prairie Dog holes are popular turn-key nests for Burrowing Owls. The owls seek out empty mounds in the spring and move right in! Unfortunately, as the vast colonies of prairie dogs decline, so does the Burrowing Owl population.

Prairie Dogs Kissing by Laurie Ryan
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Prairie Dog Snacking

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Prairie Dog colonies are popular neighborhoods for Rattlesnakes to live in. They provide ready-made dens and an ample food source.

Kansas' Prairie Dog State Park