FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



bury a Rattlesnake alive when he gets one down a hole. 

 There are still, however, many regions where the Prairie-dog 

 is a conspicuous part of the plains life and there are some 

 of the large "towns" left. Bailey (N. A. Fauna, No. 25, p. 

 90) describes a practically continuous town 100 miles wide by 

 250 miles long and containing 400,000,000 individuals (1901). 



The Prairie-dog digs a large burrow, often with a built-up 

 rim about the entrance, and as he has sociable habits, all of 

 the Prairie-dogs of a given locality will usually be found in the 

 one spot. The animals are diurnal, active only by day, and 

 under normal circumstances a colony will have part or most 

 of its members scattered about feeding within the confines 

 of the colony or at a short distance from the outermost bur- 

 rows during the morning or afternoon. A few animals may, 

 perhaps, be especially on the lookout for enemies. If a man 

 approaches, the alarm note, a piercing chirp or whistle, sends 

 all of the Prairie-dogs scurrying to the nearest burrows. 

 At the verge of safety they all stop and watch, some standing 

 up stiff and rigid, and unless the colony has been unduly 

 molested many of the animals will delay the dash down the 

 burrow until the last possible moment. Meantime the alarm 

 note has been caught up and carried throughout the "town" 

 and as long as the intruder is in the vicinity the call will be 

 given. When the animals nearest the danger pop down out of 

 sight, those out of burrows may still keep watch and send 

 the alarm. 



Prairie-dogs are always plump, but soon after the summer 

 has brought out the grasses, clover, and low- growing plants 

 they feed on, they become very fat. In the colder parts of 

 the animal's range this fat serves a useful purpose during the 

 short period of hibernation. Vegetation is eaten close near a 

 Prairie-dog "town" and when the colony is located on the 

 borders of a grain-field much damage is done. Aside from the 

 material destruction to crops the Prairie-dog proves a nuisance 

 because of the many large holes he digs into which a horse 

 may step. The Badger visits the towns and digs out the 

 Prairie-dogs, making even larger holes to trip a rider. 



The Prairie-dogs have many enemies, but because of the 

 excellent watch they keep are often able to escape such 

 dangers as Eagles and Coyotes. The Black-footed Ferret 

 and the Badger go into the holes after their prey, and against 



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