Colony of prairie dogs can occupy very large areas up to 25,000 square miles and include a couple of hundred million animals.
Prairie Dog
Origin: American Plains and Northern Mexico
Habitat: American prairies and open grassland
Diet: Plants, seeds, grasses and roots
Lifespan: Up to 5 years
Average Size: Weight: 1.5kg, Length: 35cm
Characteristics:
Prairie dogs are burrowing rodents that live in large colonies. There are five species of prairie dogs the most common of which is the black tailed. They are rabbit sized rodents with brown fur, black eyes and short limbs with claws. They are very social and live in closely knit family groups called “catteries” with only one adult male. Prairie dogs have a complex system of communication that includes a variety of pitched warning barks that signal different types of predators.
