PRAIRIE DOG
CYNOMYS LUDOVICIANUS
They are a keystone species, black footed ferrets and Burrowing Owls also exclusively use prairie dog burrows to raise their young.
Their burrowing activities aerate the soil, which allows more water to penetrate, and their dung, rich in nitrogen, is a natural fertilizer which acts to improve soil quality and vegetation.
Colonies of prairie dogs can inhabit an area of up to 25,000 square miles with several hundred million animals
Did you know?
Prairie dogs have a complex communication system that
includes various barks and chirps with different meanings, such as specific calls for particular predators.
Conservation status
VULNERABLE (VU):
High risk of extinction in the wild.
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