The black-tailed prairie dog is a large, burrowing, ground squirrel belonging to a group of four
other prairie dog species found only in North America. The black-tailed prairie dog is the most abundant and widely
distributed prairie dog.
Black-tailed
prairie dogs are a yellowish tan on the back and lighter on the belly. They have a short tail that is tipped with
black. Their ears are short and an average adult weighs about two pounds. Prairie dogs are active only during daylight
hours and spend a lot of time feeding and socializing.
Colonies or
"towns" are established in areas that have been heavily grazed by cattle. Since they do not like tall
grass, they will choose a site which has little vegetation. Here, the prairie dog feels secure and able to see
predators coming from a long distance. Burrows are usually quite visible because of the large mound of dirt around
the entrance. Mounds provide both a vantage point and protection from flooding.
Forbs are
preferred over grasses for food so competition with cattle is still questionable. Prairie dogs will, however, clip
off many grass species for better visibility, adding to the denuded look of a town.
Prairie dog
tunnels extend downward from 3-10 feet and then horizontally for another 10-15 feet. These systems are arranged
so that wind blows through and provides ventilation to their homes. Several tunnels are excavated from the main
tunnel to provide nesting areas and places to rest and avoid the hotter part of summer days. Prairie dogs also
use these tunnels during the winter to escape bad weather and the cold. They do not hibernate like the true ground
squirrels, but do remain dormant in the nest during the peak of winter. On nice days, they can be seen on the surface.
Prairie dogs
mate from early March to early April. A month later, 4-6 young are born. In 5-6 weeks, the pups come above ground
and can forage on green vegetation. By the end of the summer, they have almost reached adult size. Adults in the
wild seldom live over four years.
Only about
1 percent of the habitat remains of what was historically prairie dog town. Breaking native ground for farming
and poisoning to eliminate competition for cattle grazing has taken its toll. The problem is that many other wildlife
species also thrive on the presence of prairie dog towns. The black-footed ferret, which once preyed solely on
prairie dogs, has vanished. Other species such as the badger, coyote, eagle, and burrowing owl are also negatively
effected by the loss of a food source and living quarters. Hunting is legal for this species but does not harm
a population. If anything, it keeps present towns from expanding so far that landowners want to eliminate them
entirely.
Prairie Dogs (DesertUSA)
http://www.desertusa.com/dec96/du_pdogs.html
Prairie Dogs @ nationalgeographic.com
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/98/burrow/
NWF - Saving Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs - Links
http://www.nwf.org/nwf/grasslands/links.html
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