Black-Tailed Prairie Dog
A prairie keystone species = many other species in the ecosystem depend on them
Old prairie dog burrows are also used by other animals such as rabbits, snakes, burrowing owls, and black-footed ferrets.
They live in family groups (“coteries”) of one male and 3-4 females with their young. Larger groups are called “colonies” or “towns”, which can span hundreds of acres.
They are chiefly herbivores (primarily grasses, flowering plants, roots, and small seeds), getting water from these plants as well, but they will also eat some insects.
They are a burrowing rodent native to grasslands of North America. They dig a complex system of tunnels and burrows that include different rooms such as a nursery, bathroom, etc. Their burrows are about the size of a school bus.
They have a complex language. Their warning call sounds similar to a dog’s bark, and family members interact through “kissing” and grooming one another.