Prairie Dog
Pictures

Prairie dog barking an alert

Inquisitive family of Prairie Dogs standing alert.

Prairie dog feeding on flowers.

A Black-tailed Prairie Dog emerging from its burrow.

Adult prairie dog and a baby sharing their food.

Black-tailed prairie dog, Cynomys ludovicianus, in front of white background

Prairie dogs live in very arid environments with little rainfall, and therefore mostly get hydration from the plants they eat.

Prairie dogs are chiefly herbivorous, though they eat some insects. Succulent parts of herbs and grasses, leaves, and new shrub growth are eaten in the spring.

What Do Prairie Dogs Eat

Where Do Prairie Dogs Live

Prairie dogs out of their holes watching potential predators. Many species, like black-footed ferrets, use their burrows as homes. Prairie dogs even help aerate and fertilize the soil, allowing a greater diversity of plants to thrive.

Prairie dogs are intelligent animals with complex communication. They have a range of different barks and chirps for communicating different messages.

Two Prairie dogs in a meadow. Their vocabulary is more advanced than any other animal language that's been decoded.

Prairie dog barking an alert