Prairie dogs enjoy a snack in their habitat at the Detroit Zoo. (Joe Ballor/Daily Tribune)
Species: Prairie dogs (Cynomus lodovicianus)
Home: North America’s prairies and open grassland. The Detroit Zoo is home to over 70 black-tailed prairie dogs. The zoo’s prairie dog habitat features three clear observation areas where children under 4-feet tall can observe the animals from inside the habitat. “The kids love it,” said Betsie Meister, assistant curator of mammals at the Detroit Zoo. “They can’t believe they can get right up close and look eye-to-eye with the prairie dog. It’s really unique.”
Average life span: 3-4 years in the wild; up to 8 years in captivity
Height: Head and body, 12-15 inches; tail, 3-4 inches
Weight: 2-4 pounds
Going to town: Prairie dogs live in towns that typically cover less than a half-square mile. Some prairie dog towns are enormous, with one in Texas reportedly covering 25,000 square miles with an estimated 400 million individuals.
Birth: Reproduce once per year, with 3-4 pups
Now you know: There are five species of prairie dogs, rodents that are considered ground squirrels. They live in underground burrows, an extensive tunnel system with front and back doors and separate rooms for sleeping, defecating, nurseries, etc. There are also listening rooms near the surface, so they can detect predators. A prairie dog family consists of a male, several females and the youngsters. They are highly sociable and grooming is a regular pastime. They even “kiss” and hug each other. Family members share food and work together to chase off other prairie dogs. They have a complex communication system that helps warn of predators.
Protection status: Because they eat crops and their burrows are a tripping danger to horses, prairie dogs have been targeted by extermination campaigns. Several species dependent on the prairie dog, such as the black-footed ferret, are endangered or threatened.
Detroit Zoo information: (248) 541-5717, www.detroitzoo.org.
— Joe Ballor, Daily Tribune
Note: Animals of the Zoo is a weekly series. Next: Tigers.