Average life span in the wild: 3 to 4 years Size: Head and body,
12 to 15 in (30 to 38 cm); tail, 3 to 4 in (8 to 10 cm) Weight:
2 to 4 lbs (1 to 2 kg) Group name: Prairie dog town These
charismatic, rabbit-size rodents live on North America's
prairies and open grasslands in only a fraction of their former
numbers. Prairie dogs live in underground burrows, extensive
warrens of tunnels and chambers marked by many mounds of packed
earth at their surface entrances. Burrows have defined
nurseries, sleeping quarters, and even toilets. They also
feature listening posts near exits, so animals can safely keep
tabs on the movements of predators outside. Prairie dogs spend a
lot of time building and rebuilding these dwellings. Other
animals benefit from their labors. Burrows may be shared by
snakes, burrowing owls, and even rare black-footed ferrets,
which hunt prairie dogs in their own dwellings. Family groups (a
male, a few females, and their young) inhabit burrows and
cooperate to share food, chase off other prairie