3IO FARM FRIENDS AND FARM FOES 



Marmots 



The Marmots are represented in the United States by two 

 animals of peculiar interest — the Prairie Dog and the 

 Woodchuck. These are grouped in the squirrel family on 

 account of their general structure, although different in 

 appearance and habits from the typical squirrels. 



The Prairie Dogs inhabit a great area west of the Mis- 

 sissippi River from Texas to Canada. They are especially 

 abundant in prairie regions, where they often live in colo- 

 nies of many hundred families. Each family occupies a 

 burrow having a mound of earth at the entrance to keep 

 out water. The details of a typical burrow are shown in 

 the diagram on page 306. 



The Prairie Dogs feed upon a variety of grains and 

 grasses. They are troublesome because of the food they 

 consume, the hillocks of soil they make, and the burrows 

 they dig. They are preyed upon by many natural enemies : 

 among these coyotes, wolves, foxes, owls, ferrets, and rattle- 

 snakes are the most important. In wild regions these 

 foes serve to keep their numbers reduced, but as land is 

 brought into cultivation the destruction of natural ene- 

 mies leads to the increase of Prairie Dogs. They are 

 readily destroyed, however, by placing poisoned grain at 

 the mouth of their burrows or by the use of carbon 

 bisulphide. ' 



Nearly every farmer's boy in the eastern .region of the 

 United States is familiar with the Woodchuck or "Ground- 

 hog." This is one of the largest of the rodents, and its 

 burrows are to be found on many farms in the hill regions 

 of the Northeastern states. It feeds ravenously upon clovers 

 and forage crops as well as upon beans, peas, cucumbers, 

 and many other field and garden vegetables. In autumn 



