Inside the Complex Underground Homes of Prairie Dogs

Beavers are famous for being hardworking, but prairie dogs might give those busy beavers a run for their money. These little guys build entire underground homes where hundreds of them find shelter. Where do prairie dogs live and what are their homes like? Here’s everything you need to know about these industrious creatures.

Where Do Prairie Dogs Live?

Prairie dogs are burrowing rodents native to North America, primarily found in the western United States and parts of Mexico. They are native to Texas, Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, and many others, where they primarily live in underground tunnels. This prevalence has led to five distinct prairie dog species: black-tailed, white-tailed, Utah, Gunnison’s, and Mexican.

Prairie dogs are a keystone species. According to the Oxford Dictionary of Zoology, a keystone species “has a disproportionately strong influence within a particular ecosystem, such that its removal results in destabilization of the ecosystem and can lead to further species losses.”

Fun Facts About Prairie Dog Homes

Prairie dogs live in mixed and short grassland areas that are big enough to hold their extensive colonies. They construct large underground burrows with complex tunnel and warren systems. These rodents have specific areas for their young, sleeping, and even a spot for their waste.

Prairie dogs also have listening posts near exits, keeping colony safety in mind as they build their tunnels. Sentinel prairie dogs guard the warrens, ensuring the safety of young pups and females. All prairie dog tunnels are created with proper ventilation and airflow in mind.

Home Sweet Home

Prairie dogs are highly social critters, building large colonies known as “prairie dog towns.” Each town has a series of connected, underground burrows they use to visit each other and hide from predators.

The town is highly complex. Each is divided into wards and then subdivided into smaller sections called “coteries.” The word coterie is a French word that means a clique or club.

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In prairie dog towns, a coterie comprises a male, up to four females, and prairie dog babies up to two years old. Some coteries may have 10 offspring or more.

A sentry prairie dog guards each burrow and barks to warn others of approaching danger. When the sentry barks, the other prairie dogs dive into their burrow and wait for the “all clear” bark.

Where To See Wild Prairie Dogs

Prairie Dog Town: This preserve in Lubbock, Texas, was the first prairie dog preserve in the world. Kennedy Clapp and his wife lived in Lubbock in 1931. The government had recently conducted tests near Lubbock, and the Clapps worried that the testing might harm colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs. They established Prairie Dog Town with four dogs and two burrows in a local park.

Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge: This national park in Colorado is home to many birds, waterfowl, and mammals, including a prairie dog town of white-tailed prairie dogs.

Valles Caldera National Preserve: This reserve in New Mexico is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Among its residents are many Gunnison’s prairie dogs.

Prairie Dogs in Zoos

Some zoos have created safe colonies where prairie dogs can dig and burrow to their heart’s content. These playful, busy rodents are always a popular attraction for visitors.

You can check out these cute critters at Southwick’s Zoo in Mendon, Massachusetts.

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore has its own Prairie Dog Town full of black-tailed prairie dogs. In spring 2021, the zoo celebrated the births of several new pups.

The Saint Louis Zoo has a prairie dog town of black-tailed prairie dogs. So does the Bergen County Zoo in New Jersey.

Whether you catch sight of a prairie dog in the wild or see them at your local zoo, these little rodents are always delightful!