Advice from a Prairie Dog

Prairie dogs are small, burrowing rodents that are members of the squirrel family.  Black-tailed prairie dogs are the only species of prairie dog native to Nebraska.  They can be found in several areas throughout the state, including the Sandhills and the western and central parts of Nebraska.  

Black-tailed prairie dogs are actually a species of ground squirrel.  They are named dogs because of their alarm bark.  They use their strong voices to communicate. They have a range of different barks and chirps for communicating. It may be a mother’s signal for her offspring to follow her or alarm calls that expose threats. They have specific calls for predators which include coyotes, bobcats, eagles,  hawks, foxes, badgers, and black-footed ferrets.  Prairie dogs also have a specific alarm call for humans with a gun.

Prairie dogs have complex social systems.  They live in large colonies called towns.  Within these towns, they have a social structure based on age and gender. 

Prairie dogs are fast, skilled fighters.  They are armed with sharp claws and powerful teeth.  Prairie dogs are wild animals and can inflict a painful bite. 

Prairie dogs are known for their extensive burrow systems.  Their burrow can be up to 10 feet deep and 30 feet long.  Their burrows provide shelter from predators and extreme weather conditions.  In the fall, prairie dogs put on a layer of fat to help them survive in the winter.  They don’t hibernate but they may go into a light sleep and stay in their burrows for a few days when the winter weather is extremely cold or snowy.  

Prairie dogs are herbivores and eat grasses and other plants. Ranchers and farmers view them as a threat to their livelihoods.  They can cause damage to crops and livestock grazing areas. Ways to remove prairie dog colonies include shooting, poisoning, contest kills and even bulldozing when they find themselves in a developer’s path in urban areas. 

These are the sayings found on a bookmark called Advice from a Prairie Dog.

• Dig in

• Stay alert

• Stick together

• Celebrate the sunset

• Build community

• Protect the prairie

• Speak up!

Here are my comments about each of these sayings.

• Dig in - If you tell someone to dig in, you are inviting them to start eating, and encouraging them to eat as much as they want. 

• Stay alert - Be on your guard.  Be ready to react to a dangerous situation.

• Stick together - Support one another.

• Celebrate the sunset - I like this quote about sunsets. “It is almost possible to watch a sunset and not dream.” 

• Build community - Bring people together and create a sense of togetherness.

• Protect the prairie - Prairie ecosystems provide essential habitat for native plants and wildlife. 

• Speak up! - Give your opinion about something, especially on a subject that you have strong feelings about. I often tell someone to speak up because I have a hearing problem and often people don’t speak clearly or loudly enough for me to hear what they have to say.  

# living life abundantly  # published author  # travelling tuesdays