Prairie dogs are not actually a
dog, they are a kind of ground squirrel, which can grow until 30-40 cm in
height and 0.5-1.5 kg in weight. Prairie can be seen in Canada, US, and Mexico.
Prairie dogs give a huge
contribution for the grassland, because they digging activity will loosen the
soil which can increase plant and grass fertility. The hole they dug itself may become other
creatures’ dwelling. Also, their eating
habit can give advantages for the environment near. They grazing, cutting, and
defecating their food which can make the plants and grass more nutritious and
nitrogen-rich.
Prairie dogs live in large
colonies, each family of the colonies consist of one dominant male as the head
of the family with two until four females, and their children. The head will
protect the family from other prairie dogs by fighting against them. However,
prairie dogs are social animals, they often make a visit to others and greet
each other with such a kiss.
They can detect predators from
far distance using dichromatic color visions and inform the others by special,
high-pitched call. According to
Stobodhicoff, a northern Arizona University Biology Professor and Researcher,
that Prairie Dogs use a complex system of vocal communication to describe
specific predators.
Stobodhicoff with the other
researchers then found out that Prairie dogs use different barks for each
different predators such as coyotes, red tailed hawks, dogs, etc. other type of
sounds also found by the researches, those sounds are used by the prairie to
describe non-predator creatures. In addition, Prairie dogs vocabulary includes
a variety of noun and names of numerous types of creatures.
