Prairie Dogs are burrowing rodents.
Prairie Dog Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
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Other Names: Ground Squirrel,
Prairie Dog in Foreign Languages:
Arikara: áxkus
Chinese: caoyuánquan shu / caoyuán
songshu
Crimean Tatar: cercumuran
Croatian: prerijski pas
Czech: psoun stepní
Dutch: prairiehond
Finnish: preeriakoira / preerikko
French: chien de prairie / chienne
de prairie
German: Präriehund
Hungarian: prérikutya
Japanese: pureri doggu
Korean: peureri dogeu / mameot
Malay: anjing prairi
Navajo: dlo´o´'
Pawnee: áskuc
Polish: nieswiszczuk / piesek preriowy
Russian: lugovája sobácka
Swedish: präriehund
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Prairie Dogs
Conservation Status:
Mexican Prairie Dog is Endangered
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Species: There are currently five recognized
species of prairie dogs, the black-tailed prairie dog,
the white-tailed prairie dog, the Gunnison's prairie
dog, the Utah prairie dog and the Mexican prairie dog.
Size: Prairie dogs measure 14 to 17 inches long
and they weigh 2 to 3 lbs.
Habitat: Prairie dogs are found in Southwestern
Canada to Northern Mexico.
Description: Praire dogs are members of the
squirrel family. Prairie dogs are stout bodied rodents
with short tails. Prairie dogs are tan with a whitish
or buff-white belly. T
Behavior: Prairie dogs build complex tunnel
systems and burrows, with multiple entrances.
Diet: Prairie dogs will eat native plants like
grasses, roots, forbs, weeds, and blossoms. Rarely prairie
dogs will eat insects.
Communication: Prairie dogs communicate
through a series of complex barks.
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Did You Know?
Prairie dogs do not need to drink water
because they get enough water from their
leafy diet.
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Gestation: Prairie dogs carry their young for
approximately 30 days.
Birth: Female prairie dogs have a litter of
3 to 5 pups. Prairie dog pups, are born hairless and
with his eyes closed.
Sexually Mature: Prairie dogs are considered
sexually mature between 1 to 2 years of age.
Life Span: Prairie dogs live approximately
3 to 4 years in the wild. Snakes, Swift Foxes,
Mountain Plovers, and Burrowing Owls all prey
on prairie dogs.
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Did You Know?
Prairie dogs are fiercely territorial
about their coterie (or town). Prairie
dogs will cooperate with surrounding
families acting as sentries, or lookouts,
warning other community members about
predators or danger.
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Social Structure: Prairie dogs are highly social
creatures. Prairie dogs live in large colonies. Prairie
dogs will nuzzle and even "kiss" members of
their family.
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