Black-Tail Prairie Dog
This species occupies narrow bands of dry plains stretching from central Texans in the south to just north of the Canadian-United States boundary. This species occupies a relatively restricted range of open, level, arid short-grass plains. They are commonly found near river flats or in coulee bottomlands where sagebrush, greasewood, and prickly pear grow. They are never found in moist areas.
Black-tail Prairie Dog
Males range in length from 360-415mm, of which 75-98mm is tail. Females are slightly smaller than males. The ears are very short and often hidden in the fur. They have rudimentary cheek pouches, well furred wrists and heels, and the females have eight mammae. The skull is heavy, and the molar teeth are much larger than those of the ground squirrels. The fur is uniform in color and lacks striking patterns. The dorsum is a uniform pale cinnamon-buff, lined with scattered black hairs toward the rump, forehead and cheeks. The lower part of the face and the ventrer are pale buffy-white. The feet are a creamy color. The base of the tail is cinnamon, whereas the tail tip is black.
Reproduction
Mating takes place early in the year, with timing of mating varying with location. The gestation period (about 30 days) is followed by the birth of two to eight young. These altricial young are born hairless and naked. They weigh about 55 grams at birth and measure around 82 mm in length. The young develop relatively slowly, and until the young are weaned, they are very susceptible to infanticide by the adult females in the colony. The young do not appear above ground until they are about 6 weeks old. They are weaned around seven weeks of age, but they stay around the natal burrow for about two more weeks before they disperse. Females can breed as yearlings. Males sometimes are not able to establish themselves as breeders until their second year.
Behavior
Prairie dogs are the most social of the ground- dwelling sciurid. Prairie dog colonies , or towns, may contain hundreds of individuals living within a very restricted area. Within the town there are certain neighborhoods, or coteries. Females typically remain in their natal coterie, whereas males disperse to a nearby coterie. Each coterie is populated by a group of closely related females (sister, mothers, aunts) and one or two territorial males. Territories are defended aggressively from neighbors. Within the coterie, all things are shared. Burrow systems and food supplies are communal property . Territorial defense is shared by all members of the coterie.
Male prairie dogs respond strongly to intrusions of other male prairie dogs, but seem oblivious to invading females. Female prairie dogs, by contrast, show the most aggression toward invading females. Prairie dogs have long been noted for their highly social behavior. There is often playing, muzzling, mutual grooming, and a great deal of vocal communication. For instance, when a prairie dog spots a predator, such as a hawk, badger or black-footed ferret, it raises an alarm call, alerting its neighbors. All of the prairie dogs hearing this cry quickly scuttle into their burrows for protection. The only time there is strife with a coterie is during the breeding season.
Females display dominance relationships only when they are pregnant and lactating. During this time, females fight, and when they have the opportunity, they raid the burrows of other females and kill the pups they find there. It is not surprising that during this time, females aggressively defend their natal burrow against other females. Once the young come above ground, however, harmony returns to the coterie. Indeed, young have been observed following the “wrong” mother into a burrow at night. The female nurses the youngster as if it were her own. It is not certain whether mothers can distinguish their young from the young of other mothers once the young have come above ground.
Food Habits
Black-tailed prairie dogs eat primarily leaves, stems, and roots of grasses, weeds, and forbs. Although vegetable matter forms over 98% of the prairie dog’s diet, animal matter may sometimes be ingested. The animals typically eaten by prairie dogs are grasshoppers, cutworms, bug and beetles. The prairie dog does not need to drink water in order to get the moisture it needs to survive. It can get all of the water it requires from its moist, leafy foods. Most prairie dogs forage close to their burrows when possible, moving into distant foraging areas only when forced to do so by local shortages of green shoots. In captivity they should be offered a complete diet of rodent lab blocks, and rat or mouse mix, with bits of fruit or veggies regularly.
Cheerios or wheat bread are great treats, in small quantities. Do NOT feed chocolate, fried foods, salted foods, candy or junk food! They may enjoy crickets and mealworms if they are captive bred, never feed wild insects as they may carry parasites. Vitamins, like Nutri-Cal are a good addition to their diet, and added calcium during nursing and growth due to demands on their systems at those times, but take care not to overdo it. Water bottles should be used to proved constant, clean water. Ceramic or stoneware food dishes work well for keeping seeds or fresh foods off the floor, and a wire mesh hopper that allows them to eat the lab blocks through without extra waste.
