Animals

Native to the grasslands of North America , small burrowing rodents know as prairie dogs, will grow between a foot and foot and a half long. The prairie dog can be found in Canada , Mexico , and the United States. The prairie dogs are highly social and live in large colonies. These large colonies are called “towns”.

These towns can cover hundreds of acres and have many prairie dog families. A prairie dog family can have one male and up to four females. A female may breed up to six pups in a year. Pups are born furless and blind, these pups need close attention from their mother for a month. Pups are at sexual maturity at three years old

Prairie dogs help prevent runoff and erosion, through their tunnel systems that send rain water to the water table. This also serves to change soil composition by reversing soil compaction.

Adapted to many predators, the prairie dog uses dichromatic color vision that helps detect predators that can be far from them, giving them time to tell other prairie dogs. They use special high pitched call to warn them. They Their burrows generally contain several escape routes. The prairie dog is chiefly herbivorous, though it eats some insects. It feeds primarily on grass.