| Class: |
Mammalia |
|
||
| Order: | Rodentia (2 incisors above, 2 below with distinct space between 2 teeth) | |||
| Family: | Sciuridae (squirrel family) includes chipmucks, woodchucks, marmots. | |||
| Genus: | Cynomys | |||
| Species: | ludovicianus | |||
| Name/ History: |
Considered a pest in most western states, the prairie dog was called "little dog" by French trappers. | |||
| Size: |
Male
|
Female
|
Young
|
|
| Weight (lbs) |
2-3
|
same
|
Achieves
adult size by fall |
|
| Height (in) |
11-13
|
same
|
||
| Tail (in) |
3-4
|
same
|
||
| Mate: | January | |||
| Gestation: | 28-32 days | |||
| Birth: | March-April. Pups hairless with eyes closed, come above ground at 6 weeks. | |||
| # young: | 3-5 | |||
| Age: | 8.5 in captivity | |||
| Habitat/ Range: |
Dry upland prairies. Lives in burrows. | |||
| Food: | Grasses, grasshoppers/insects | |||
| Enemies: | Black-footed ferret (occasional coyote, bobct, owl, eagle, rattlesnake) | |||
| Disease: | Rabies, plague | |||
| Behavior/ Characteristics: |
Gregarious, lives in towns. When group is eating, one dog is always on alert. Within towns small groups (coteries) show territorial behavior. Does not hibernate. | |||
