Prairie Dogs
Animal Summary
The zoo’s present colony of prairie dogs was received in August of 2010. They were donated by the Minnesota Zoological Gardens.
Facts
- At least one member of a prairie dog coterie acts as a lookout. It rears up on its hind legs and barks skyward to warn of approaching danger.
- Empty sections of prairie dog towns offer a home to such animals as ground squirrels, cottontail rabbits, burrowing owls and rattlesnakes.
- The burrow system of the prairie dog colony extends over a vast area. These large areas are called towns which can cover hundreds of acres. The town is divided into family units, or coteries which may cover only a few acres.
The Prairie Dog occupies just 2% of its original range. In 1900 its numbers reached as high as 5 million. But decades of shooting and poisoning have reduced its population by over 90%.
Threats
The main threat to Prairie Dogs is mans continued poisoning and shooting in areas where cattle roam.