SQUIRREL FAMILY 



205 



Xfliraska, W. H. Osgood dug out a burrow, of 

 which he uiade a careful diagram, accompanied 

 by measurements. 



" In this case the burrow went down nearly 

 vertically to a depth of fourteen and one-half 

 feet below the surface when it turned abruptly 

 and became horizontal. The horizontal part, was 

 thirteen and one-half feet in length. One-third 

 of the horizontal part and two old nests and 

 passage ways were plugged with black earth 

 brought in from the surface layer, which was 

 very different from the light-colored clayey earth 

 in which the greater part of the burrow lay. 



" Four or five feet below the entrance was a 

 short side passage probably used as a place in 

 which to turn arotmd when the animals come 



The White-tailed is not unlike the Gunnison 

 Prairie Dog in size and general coloration, but 

 may be readily distinguished from the latter by 

 its white tail and by the broad dusky patch 

 which covers the eye and extends down over the 

 cheek. Merritt Gary says of this species: "It 

 is not extensively colonial, the burrows being 

 scattered here and there over the sage plains. 

 The burrows are apparently occupied for many 

 years, and the ejected earth accumulates into 

 very large mounds, often as much as three feet 

 in height and eight or ten feet in diameter. 

 These Prairie Dogs are not very shy and often sit 

 at the mouth of the burrow until approached 

 within a rod. The usual note is a peculiar 

 querulous cry, very unlike the short sharp bark 



ujii I . b. iJiulutiiLal burvcy 



PRAIRIE DOG AT HOME 

 Showing the characteristic mound around the entrance to its burrow 



back to take a look at the intruder before finally 

 disappearing in the bottom of their burrows. It 

 was also used, apparently, as a resting-place 

 where they bark and scold after retreating from 

 the mouths of the burrows. As elsewhere noted, 

 they are often heard barking after they have 

 gone in. 



" The burrow was opened the day after bisul- 

 phide of carbon had been used for destroying the 

 animals, and the material carrying the bisulphide 

 was found at the bottom of the vertical part, 

 just where the horizontal part turns off. 



" The Prairie Dog has several natural 

 enemies which, when not interfered with by 

 man, usually serve to hold its members in check. 

 The most inveterate of these appear to be the 

 coyote, badger, ferret and rattlesnake." 



of the common type. Chattering alarm notes 

 also are occasionally heard as one walks through 

 a colony. 



" Wherever White-tailed Prairie Dogs live in 

 the neighborhood of cultivated ground they are 

 very injurious to green crops. Loring states that 

 in the vicinity of Grand Junction, Golorado, the 

 burrows are usually in the dry banks of irrigat- 

 ing ditches, and the Prairie Dogs inflict con- 

 siderable damage on the adjacent truck farms 

 by eating cabbages, cantaloupes, and other crops. 

 \Vhile eating, they sit erect on their hind legs, 

 but if disturbed run to the burrows, carrying the 

 food in their mouths. They destroy consider- 

 able areas of range grasses and feed extensively 

 in alfalfa fields and hay meadows in the river 

 valleys throughout their range." 



