![]() Prairie Dogs: America's Meerkats - Social Life. This program discusses the Social Life and behavior of the 5 species of prairie dogs; the Black- tailed prairie dogs and the Mexican prairie dogs are the black- tailed group who have black tail tips, and the Gunnison's prairie dogs, the White- tailed prairie dogs, and the Utah prairie dogs are the white- tailed group who have white tail tips. All prairie dogs live in the grasslands of western central North America, and all are social. They live in relative harmony within their social groups. For more Prairie Dog madness! All of the species are similar in their social behavior, although the black- tails are somewhat more social than the white- tails. Learn about a type of hibernation called Torpor that prairie dogs employ. See pups before they emerge from their natal burrows as well as in different stages of life (an average prairie dog lives 3- 4 years), rare above ground mating, a lot of greet- kissing, territorial behavior from fighting and aggressive chases to social structure based on plant food sources on each territory, mutual grooming, and prairie dog personalities! Prairie dogs are considered Keystone Species of their grassland ecosystems - - some 2. Prairie dogs survive in 1- 2% of their historic range of habitat. Their numbers have declined drastically over the past 1. Agriculture, land development, target shooting and disease are the primary reasons for their continuing decline. The Mexican prairie dogs are listed as Endangered (under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species - - CITES, as well as recognized by the Mexican government as at high risk of extinction), but are still being killed primarily for agricultural land interests. Species Description: Prairie dogs occur only in North America. They are rodents within the squirrel family and include five species-- the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), the white-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys.The Utah prairie dogs are listed as Threatened (under the United States' Endangered Species Act - - ESA), but they are being killed due to land development. The other three species need to be listed also in order to have some protection under the law. The Gunnison's prairie dogs are currently under review for listing under the ESA. A number of prairie animals are at risk of extinction (as well as prairie dogs themselves) because prairie dog numbers are so low. In the Midwest of the United States the matter of whether prairie dogs are a threatened species or an over populated public health nuisance that causes severe economic damage has been raging for decades. Adaptations in Prairie Dogs. Fascinated by prairie dogs? They are wonderful animals. The following Buzzle article will tell you more about them. Read various facts about prairie dogs, including how to get rid of these pests. Visit our prairie dog pest profile now to find out more about prairie dogs. Black-tailed prairie dog distribution is not limited by soil type, but by indirect effects of soil texture on moisture and vegetation. Colonies occur in many types of soil, including deep, alluvial soils with medium to fine. Prairie dogs live in and around “towns” of tunnels they carve 3–10 feet beneath the surface of prairies and semi-deserts of the western United States, Canada, and northern Mexico. A cold-blooded prairie dog just murdered a hapless ground squirrel. Image Credit: John Hoogland Prairie dogs: fuzzy little socialites that live in elaborate burrows and chow down on grass all day, right? Five animals that are dependent on prairie dogs and are at highest risk are Black- Footed Ferrets, Swift Foxes, Mountain Plovers, Burrowing Owls and Ferruginous Hawks. ![]()
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