The prairie dog is a small, highly social animal of the North American grasslands. Despite the common name suggesting a canine relationship, this mammal is not a dog at all. The prairie dog is a type of ground squirrel, a rodent that creates extensive underground tunnel systems. This discrepancy in nomenclature stems from a distinctive feature that impressed early European explorers.
What Exactly is a Prairie Dog?
Prairie dogs are medium-sized rodents belonging to the squirrel family, Sciuridae, which also includes marmots and chipmunks. They are burrowing animals native to the plains and high plateaus of North America. There are five recognized species, such as the widely distributed black-tailed prairie dog and the white-tailed prairie dog.
These stout-bodied animals typically weigh between one and three pounds, with a body length averaging 12 to 16 inches. Their short, muscular legs and long claws are perfectly suited for their extensive digging and burrowing lifestyle. Most species have a short tail, which is often black-tipped or white-tipped depending on the species, and a fur coloration that ranges from yellowish buff to reddish brown.
The Reason Behind the “Dog” Moniker
The “dog” portion of the name has nothing to do with the animal’s biology or appearance; it is purely an auditory description. The name originated with early French explorers and settlers who encountered the animal in the American West. They were struck by the distinctive, high-pitched alarm call the rodents use to alert their colonies to danger.
This vocalization is a sharp, repetitive bark that observers felt strongly resembled the bark of a small domestic dog. The specific call that earned them their name is an anti-predator alarm used when a threat, like a coyote or hawk, is spotted near the colony. Researchers have found that these calls are quite sophisticated, capable of conveying specific information about the size and speed of an approaching predator.
The Lewis and Clark expedition journals, for example, noted in 1804 that they discovered a “Village of an animal the French Call the Prairie Dog.” This suggests the name was already in use among French traders and trappers in the region. One of the species was even initially described in 1806 as the “barking squirrel,” further highlighting the sound as their most memorable characteristic.
Another significant vocal display is the “jump-yip,” especially common in the black-tailed prairie dog. This involves the animal stretching vertically and throwing its forefeet into the air while emitting a two-toned bark. This jump-yip is often a territorial call or a signal that an all-clear has been given after a threat has passed. The sheer volume and canine quality of the repetitive alert calls were what led to the common name sticking with the animal.
Life in the Prairie Dog Town
Prairie dogs are highly social and live in massive underground communities known as “towns” or colonies, which are found across the North American grasslands. These towns are not simply random collections of burrows but are highly organized, complex systems that can cover hundreds of acres. The burrow entrances are often marked by volcano-shaped mounds of excavated soil, which serve as flood protection and elevated lookout posts for sentinels.
Within these large colonies, the prairie dogs organize themselves into smaller, closely knit family units called coteries or clans. A coterie typically consists of one adult male, several adult females, and their young offspring, who share a distinct territory within the town. The stability of the coterie is often maintained by the females, who tend to remain in their birth group for life, while males disperse to find new groups.
The burrows themselves are elaborate, multi-chambered networks that extend several feet below the surface and may run 15 feet or more horizontally. These systems include nesting chambers lined with grass, separate toilet areas, and listening posts close to the surface for quick access and predator avoidance. Communal living provides safety in numbers, with members cooperating on vigilance and burrow maintenance.