Zoolung Animals

Yeongdeungpo Hanam Dongtan

Prairie Dog

The name “prairie dog” means “dog of the prairie,” and the word “dog” was added because they bark like dogs when they sense a threat from outside. They live in close-knit groups and dig burrows underground, creating multiple chambers divided into bedrooms, food storage areas, and bathrooms depending on their purpose. Because they live underground, their ears are very small to keep dirt and dust out, and their claws are very long to make digging easier. Since they molt twice a year, their fur often looks patchy.

Category

Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae
Habitat

Dry grassland
Diet

Hay, insects

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Yeongdeungpo

Guardian of Life Cookie

Species

Social rodents

A rodent belonging to the squirrel family, it inhabits the prairies of North America and is highly social.

Place of discovery

North American Great Plains

It is found primarily in the dry, open prairie regions of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Habitat

Underground cave in the grassland region

They build and inhabit a complex and vast **underground tunnel system (colony)** beneath the lush grasslands.

Diet

Herbivorous

They are herbivores that primarily eat grass, seeds, roots, flowers, and grains.

Action

Highly social

Hundreds of them gather to form a vast “city,” where they live together, develop complex social structures, and cooperate with one another.

Average size

30–40 cm in length

Including the tail, the body length is about 30–40 cm, and it weighs approximately 0.5–1.5 kg.

Features

Boundaries and Communication

They make various sounds, such as “barking,” to warn of predators and communicate with one another.

Lifespan

5–8 years in the wild, 8–10 years in captivity

In the wild, they live for about 5 to 8 years, and in captivity, they can survive for 8 to 10 years.