Prairie Dogs

There are five species of prairie dogs that are native to North America.  The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) has been eliminated from 98 percent of its original habitat due to human activity during the colonization of North America.  Even today, some people poison or shoot these prairie dogs to prevent them from damaging their yards or crops.

These prairie dog photos were taken near Rapid City, South Dakota in the summer of 2009.

Black-tailed prairie dogs, which weigh about one to three pounds as adults, mate in March and April and give birth to an average of five young per breeding season.  Their lifespan in the wild is three to five years.  They have a very sophisticated communication system that allows one prairie dog to raise the alarm and as a result protect the rest of the colony from a potential predator or other source of danger.  Their eyes are on the sides of their heads to allow for a wider range of vision while they are exposed, eating grasses and forbs on the open prairie.

The prairie is a dangerous place!

Did you know?  Prairie dogs are in the same family as squirrels!

References: http://www.desertusa.com/dec96/du_pdogs.html