When people think of prairie dogs they don’t think of much else than a furry, cute, and small creature that pops up out of the ground from underground tunnels known as coteries or towns. Prairie dogs are mainly habitants of the Great Plains of North America, with the river valley of Saskatchewan.  Canada is considered the northern border and Mexico considered the southern border.  With a current population of approximately 10,000-20,000 and growing, there is much more to a prairie dog than the cute features people see and base their opinions on.

 

Some people feel prairie dogs would make good pets, but due to many different characteristics of the prairie dog they might not be the “ideal” pet.   Despite the prairie dogs small stature of only 5-7 inches and 5-7 lbs they can reach up to speeds of 35mph.  The prairie dog also has 50 different barks, hence the “doggy” name from the sound they produce.   If the prairie dog has offspring it takes up to only 30 days for the gestation period.

 

Prairie dogs can be very social animals.  Prairie dogs have been known to kiss, hug, and rub noses with one another as a social greeting.  Seasons tend to affect the prairie dog as well.  Spring and summer seasons bring relaxed and friendly environments while winter and fall months bring aggression and fighting between the male prairie dogs.  This anger

 

is linked to the gestation period of the female prairie dogs, which as discussed earlier can take only 30 days.

 

The prairie dogs need little water to survive.  They get their water intake from the stuff they consume.  Prairie dogs eat plants, weeds, roots, flowers, and occasionally insects.  Sadly though, the prairie dogs are eaten often by the many predators around them.  The prairie dogs predators are black footed ferrets, snakes, swift foxes, burrowing owls, and even humans.   Man has actually been a detriment to the prairie dog as they utilize them for killing contests and they destroy their homes to allow for their cattle to graze and farms to produce.  The prairie dogs utilize their complex system of underground tunnels to help keep them safe from the predators.

 

 

Finally, I feel that prairie dogs are animals that belong best in the wild.  They have adapted well to their environment and know how to protect themselves from danger.  I think their adaptations to their environment are really innovative and make them a very special species.

 

Author: Jared M.
Published: 02/2011

 

Sources:   http://www.prairiedoghuntinginfo.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prairie_dogs

http://www.answers.com/topic/prairie-dog

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/prairie-dog/

Photo credit:  http://www.cooperativeconservation.org/images/Utah%20Prairie%20Dog.jpg