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The prairie dog (genus Cynomys) is a rodent even though the word dog is in the name. Their close relation is to the squirrel not the dog. The name prairie dog came about because of their characteristic barking noise. The class of the prairie dog is Mammalia, order is Rodentia and the family is Sciuridae. The length of the head and body ranges from eleven to fourteen inches (27-34 cm). The weight varies from two to three pounds (1-1.5 kg). The tail will measure three to four inches (7-10 cm).
In the Southwest the prairie dog has managed to survive for many years due to their complex social organization and behavior. They are an important part of life cycle of the Great Plains of America as were the buffaloes and North American Indians. The buffalos wore out pastures and then the prairie dogs moved into their territory and built towns. They were able to modify the vegetation of the plains as the burrowing helped the soil to product great quantities of seeds. Tall grasses were unable to develop due to the burrows. Prairie dog burrows not only help to conserve rain water but also offer already made homes to burrowing owls and desert snakes. The good they do to the soil by burrowing in stirring up the earth and providing underground passages for moisture far exceed the damage they inflict.
Prairie dogs can survive in hot summer or in cold areas. They do require a normal rainfall season. When the climate is agreeable there can be many prairie dog towns and colonies. Some of these colonies can be immense and cover large areas.
There are five species of prairie dogs. Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) have a round head and a thickset body. The ears are small and the eyes set high. The tip of the tail is black and pelage is light brown with the lower parts slightly paler in color. White-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys leucurus) are a little smaller than some species with a white tail. Usually the colonies of the white-tailed prairie dog are smaller than those of the black-tailed ones. The white-tail can live in higher altitudes than the black-tailed and hibernates in the winter. Utah prairie dogs are the smallest of the species. Mexican prairie dogs (c.Mexicans) live in Mexico. Gunnison's prairie dogs (c. Gunnison) tend to have a small tail and live in the Four Corners area of the United States.
The colony of the prairie dog consists of a family, one male adult, from two to five females, and a number of their young. These family units have their own space or territory and guarded the area carefully. The family units cover extensive areas when possible so large amounts of prairie dogs are not in one small area. The spreading out of colonies will also help to prevent a food shortage and soil damage.
Prairie dogs live year around in these burrows, and take refuge only when the weather conditions are severe or harm is near. The next time you see a colony of prairie dogs watch for movement in the burrows.
Prairie dogs do not reproduce as readily as others in the rodent family of animals as they do not reach their sexual maturity until two years of age. Females only give birth once a year and then only to no more than five young. The female has a gestation of up to 33 days then has her young in a nest. Prairie dog babies will be born in April or May only. These babies are born blind and deaf. The mother will nurse them for about five to six weeks and when their eyes open they start moving about the area. The female is left alone during this period of taking care of her young even by the male in the colony. She has total privacy.
During this time the young will play together, explore and do as many young animals and even though they may wander into another family area their needs are met including food and warmth. The members of the other families will tend to their needs and will not be aggressive to the young prairie dogs. When they start to be aggressive toward the others in families that are not their own, they are sent away and made unwelcome. Once back in their own family area others will not come to attempt harm to them. The young are respected when in their family area.
At the age of one year the young male prairie dogs will attempt to leave home, find females and establish their own colonies and families. They will leave the colonies with other adults, not just on their own. During the second year they are more able to establish families of their own. During the day these young males will venture out to build new homes but at night they return to the colony of their family. Sometimes there will not be much space to build a new home. Males will fight and one will take over the other's territory. They begin by sniffing out the area and becoming familiar with the tunnels and burrows when the rival lives.
If the new male is discovered he will retreat but only for a time as he will return to try to tire out the adversary by running around in circles. Most of the time the older male will retreat and the new male will move into his home. Sometimes a young strong male will just wander around until he can find a weaker opponent to take over the territory easier than a strong one.
Prairie dogs when meeting another will lie and the ground, wave tails and touch their lips in a "kiss." This is not a display of affection but a veiled threat that exists. They have a very high territorial instinct that is very aggressive protecting the young. They can be very aggressive when approached. They will approach a rival who has stepped within their boundaries and will not leave. Both prairie dogs will face each other then one will turn his back and lift up the tail exposing anal glands for the other to sniff. The other will do the same in lifting his tail and exposing his scent. Eventually one or the other will bite the opponent then the fight will begin. Sometimes either of the opponents will retreat a small distance away then the confrontation will start all over. This is considered a test of strength.
Barking is a means of communication for prairie dogs. There are certain yelps and barks that have meaning for other prairie dogs. A series of short, sharp yelps will mean harm is near and this alerts all in the colony. Another bark is one of claiming their own territory as when the enemy approaches, letting the other know they are on their private ground. Information is conveyed by various barks.
There are some animals that will like the prairie dog and not try to harm him. One of these is the burrowing oil, as he has diurnal habits. The owl will make use of the burrows of the prairie dog and seems even drawn to these burrows.
The prairie dog has survived for many years but has many enemies. Larger animals such as the golden eagle and the prairie falcon will swoop down on the prairie dogs and kill. The rattlesnake will also kill but often the prairie dogs are able to defend themselves from snakes. The black-footed ferret a skillful burrowing animal is an enemy that likes to feed on prairie dogs. Man has been the worst enemy of the prairie dog in destruction. Cattle can easily step on them but man sets out sometimes to systematically destroy them. Many present day colonies have protection within boundaries of national parks.
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