Prairie Dog Eating a Dandelion

Called the “barking squirrel” by the Lewis and Clark expedition, prairie dogs are named for their habitat and warning call, which sounds similar to a dog’s bark. They tend to live in areas prone to environmental threats, including hailstorms, blizzards, floods, drought and prairie fires. Their burrows are typically 16-33 feet long and 6½ to 10 feet below the ground. Prairie dogs are highly social, living in colonies that can span hundreds of acres.