Breeding takes place in March and early April, and a … Prairie dogs (most often black-tailed prairie dogs) are becoming popular as pets. Prairie Dog Obligates. Prairie dogs are not natural carriers of any of the three diseases, but the ban is believed to be in the best interests of protecting the public, and there are no intentions of ever lifting it. Almost all mating occurs among unrelated individuals within a coterie. Prairie Dogs and Soil Impacts. A Prairie dog is diurnal, which means they are active in the daylight hours. General: Much of the degradation of soils in the urban environments that have prairie dog colonies is the result of considerable human disturbance over long periods of time. Focal points . Being very social creatures, prairie dogs will become depressed... Housing. Like all rodents, they have teeth that continually grow throughout life. Prairie Dog Reproduction A prairie dog reaches sexual maturity after its first winter and has one litter per year. Prairie Dog as Pets Behavior and Temperament. << Back to All Prairie Dog Help & Education or Shop Prairie Dog Products. Young Prairie dogs are born hairless, helpless, and with their eyes closed. The prairie dog ban is frequently cited by the CDC as a successful response to the threat of zoonosis. Breeding takes place in March and early April, and a litter of usually four to six young is born 30 to 35 days later. Black-tailed prairie dogs mature in 1 year, but most don’t breed until they are over 1½ years old. The average weight of an adult male or female prairie dog ranges from about 1.5 - 3.5 lbs (650 - 1600 grams). Family groups (a male, a few females, and their young) inhabit burrows and cooperate to share food, chase off other prairie dogs, and groom one another. Prairie dogs tend to be celebrated for their larger ecological virtues. They love to have neighbors and prairie dog towns can extend for miles. Prairie dogs burrow holes into the ground and are always found living next to each other. Prairie dogs even help aerate and fertilize the soil, allowing a greater diversity of plants to thrive. Young pups are very … Female prairie dogs usually produce one litter per year. We studied these creatures while we were in South Dakota. Many species, like black-footed ferrets, use their burrows as homes. Max giving Poppy a bit of summer loving, she wasn't too happy. Basic Prairie dog Information << Back to All Prairie Dog Help & Education or Shop Prairie Dog Products. Prairie dogs range in size from one pound to four pounds, with either white or black tails. A vast array of insects, birds, reptiles and mammals use prairie dog burrows for nests. But the widespread destruction of prairie dog colonies and the arrival of the exotic disease plague in the 1900s reduced prairie dogs … For example, prairie dogs are highly social and breed annually, whereas gophers are solitary and breed all year around. Males are usually larger than females. These group members even greet one another with a prairie dog kiss or nuzzle. You will find them in the wild in short grass prairies and plateaus of Mexico, Canada, Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming.