Prairie dogs are a huge part of the ecosystem here on the
prairie. Their towns are scattered around various spots, ranging in size. We
often stumble upon a p-dog town on our hikes and are greeted with
surround-sound chirps as they call out to warn each other of the tall bi-pedal
creatures roaming through their town.
Black-tailed prairie dogs inhabit grasslands and sagebrush
in extensive underground burrow systems.
Because they’re herbivores, they rival some of the fanciest golf courses
with their landscaping capabilities.
Their burrows, however, wouldn’t be ideal for a golf course because of
the cone-shaped mound of dirt that protrudes a foot or two at their
entrance. I have been so curious
about their underground burrows, picturing them to be these extensive systems
with dirt-furnished living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. But in reality, their
tunnels extend vertically down from the entrance about 3-10 feet, and then
continue horizontally for an additional 10-16 feet with some connecting tunnels
every here and there. I still like to believe that they’ve made tiny couches
out of dirt to lounge on during hot days.
I also picture a serious hierarchy among the prairie dogs in the prairie
dog town: a king prairie dog, with his various mistress lady prairie dogs, his
37 children prairie dogs, and his noblemen prairie dogs who he comes to for
advice on ruling his grand p-dog kingdom. As far as I know, this is not a real
thing, but I still like to believe it is.
The past two days we have been fortunate enough to meet up
with a team of prairie dog biologists and technicians who are working in the
Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge (just south of where we are) and help them
in some of their field work. They are working to help the prairie dogs deal
with some diseases that are devastating to the colonies. In this effort, they trap the prairie
dogs, put them under, comb for fleas, pluck some hairs, weigh them, take blood,
put in tracking chips, and mark them with ear tags. Just like a trip to a fancy
salon and taking a nice nap! And somehow with my degree in geology and scientific
curiosity, they let me help… So I threw on some gloves and manhandled some
napping prairie dogs today. THEY ARE SO CUTE. Except when they poop on you
while they’re sleeping… which of course happened to me.
Warning: these photos may make your heart melt
Warning: these photos may make your heart melt
Hello Prairie Dogs (Photo: Shannon Rebinski)
Holding my p-dog friend in her soon-to-be napping chamber (Photo: Shannon Rebinski)
Putting ear tags on (Photo: Shannon Rebinski)
Releasing my p-dog friend home after her trip to the salon (Photo: Shannon Rebinski)
Prairie dog on his mound
Prairie dogs kissing with a photobombing third-wheeler (Photo: Jonah Gula)
Chillin'
Burrowing Owl: A migratory owl that hijacks prairie dog
burrows and lives there during the summer months
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