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Wed, Jun 19, 10:00am - 3:00pm |
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Sat, Jul 20, 6:00pm - 8:00pm |
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Black-tailed Prairie Dog |
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Cynomys ludovicianus
Family
Lifespan
- Wild: 3 to 5 years
- Captivity: 8 to 10 years
Size
- Length: 12 to 17 inches
- Weight: 1 ½ to 3 pounds
Origin
- Great Plains from Canada to Northern Mexico
Diet
- Wild: Herbs and grasses
- Zoo: High-fiber alfalfa cubes, yams, carrots, and hay.
Reproduction
- Litters consist of 1 to 6 pups.
- The pups remain in the burrows until they are 5 to 6 weeks old.
Unique Characteristics
- The name "prairie dog" comes from its call which sounds like the yap of a small dog.
- They are actually closest to the squirrel in relations.
- They live in large colonies called towns, which are composed of small family groups of up to 20 members called coteries.
- They live in an elaborate system of burrows, where they seek shelter from predators and severe weather.
Special Adaptations
- Prairie dogs communicate and strengthen their bonds through a series of vocalizations, playing, nuzzling, and grooming.
- The family system helps them deal with predators more effectively too.
- They will bite off tall plants around the burrows to see better.
Conservation Status
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Humans have targeted this rodent with poison campaigns as agriculture and livestock ranching claims habitat previously used by the prairie dog.
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The main threat, however, is the loss of habitat due to this agricultural expansion.
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Prairie dogs are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Sources
- CITES Appendices. Accessed December 2012. www.cites.org
- IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Accessed December 2012. www.iucnredlist.org
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