Prairie Dog

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Prairie Dog

• Megan Hanley
• March 31, 2006

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Description

• About the size of a rabbit
• Prairie dogs are fast mammals that dwell
  underground
• Have a slick brown or clay colored coat with
  black-tipped hairs and a black-tipped tail
• The underside is a light tan color

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Size

• 12-15 inches
• With a 3-4 inch tail
• Prairie Dogs weigh 2-4 pounds

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Habitat

• Prairie dogs are found primarily in prairie.

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Diet

• Eat grasses
• Roots
• Seeds
• Leafy plants

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Life Span

• 3-4 years in wild
• Known to live 8 years in captivty.

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Threats

• Farmers and ranchers are known poison Prairie
  Dogs because of the threat to the crops, and
  livestock
• Predators of the Prairie dogs are coyotes,
  badgers, ferettes, foxes, eagles, and hawks.

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Interesting Facts

• Live in underground communities.
• Dig tunnels and make a small mound around the
  entrance to the tunnel to prevent rain off from
  entering their home.
• Their underground tunnels to protect them from
  their predators
• As many as 2 thousand prairie may live in 1
  prairie dog town.