- Head and Body Length: 11" - 13".
- Weight: 1.5 - 3 lbs.
- Prairie dogs breed once a year; under normal conditions this period
is in late February or early March.
- Gestation: 34-37 days.
- Litter size 1 - 8 (with an average of 3 surviving to emerge above
ground).
- The "pups" wean between 5 - 7 weeks and appear above ground
at 6 - 7 weeks. They continue to grow until they are about 15 months
old.
- Longevity: Wild: 3-5 yrs.; Captivity: 8.5 yrs.
- These ground squirrels have brownish fur and white underparts.
- They have large eyes, short tails ( white or black tipped ) and small
rounded ears.
- They are rodents.
- They have strong front teeth and sharp claws for digging.
- The prairie dog is about the size of a football (30 cm.).
- The front paws have long claws for digging tunnels.
- They eat alot to store up fat for winter.
- They sleep in the winter.
- Prairie dogs do not need to drink water. They can get all of the
water needed from the leafy foods they eat
- Many predators hunt these rodents including badgers, weasels, ferrets,
hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes, bobcats and snakes.
- Prairie dogs feed on leaves, grasses and grass roots, weeds, seeds
and other plants (including crops like alfalfa and corn). They also
eat grasshoppers, cutworms, bug and beetles.
- Prairie dogs are most active during the cool hours of daylight.
- Most of their time is spent eating.
- They also like to visit and groom each other.
- Prairie dogs communicate with each other.
|
