Black-tailed Prairie Dog - Five Sisters Zoo

Black-Tailed Prairie dogs are a ground squirrel species rather than a type of rodent. Their fur is generally a sandy brown or tan colour, with the characteristic black tail.  They live in large underground tunnel networks, with the largest colony known to have over 4 million inhabitants. Prairie dogs are a keystone species in their ecosystem, with over a hundred other species of plants, animals and insects depending on them for survival.

Facts

Diet: Omnivore; grasses and plants primarily, some insects and worms when available.

Length: 36-43cm

Weight: 1kg

Habitat: Grasslands and other sparsely vegetated areas of sandy, soft soils in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain areas of the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Lifespan: Over 8 years under human care, only 5-8 years in the wild.

Adapted to Survive

Their paws are specially adapted for digging out the soft soil to create their underground burrows; they use a wide range of vocalizations to communicate with other members of the colony.

Threats

Habitat fragmentation; human expansion

IUCN Conservation Status

Least Concern

< Back to list

© Copyright 2024 Five sisters Zoo