Prairie Dogs

Found in the grasslands of the central and western North America. Their range extends from southern Saskatchewan in Canada, down through the Great Plains of the US, into northern Mexico.

Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Herbivorous grazers.

• Wild: Grasses, sedges, roots, and seeds.
• Zoo: Exotic Nutrition Prairie Dog Chow, hay, root vegetables, and bamboo.

• Wild: 3 – 5 years
• Captivity: 8 – 10 years

• Towns: They live in massive colonies called “towns” that can span hundreds of acres.
• Language: They have a complex vocal system with specific calls for different predators (e.g., “human with gun” vs. “hawk”).
• Keystone Species: Their burrows provide homes for other species like burrowing owls and black-footed ferrets.

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Gracie