Prairie dogs enjoy a snack in their habitat at the Detroit Zoo.
(Joe Ballor/Daily Tribune) Species: Prairie dogs (Cynomus
lodovicianus) Home: North America’s prairies and open grassland.
The Detroit Zoo is home to over 70 black-tailed prairie dogs.
The zoo’s prairie dog habitat features three clear observation
areas where children under 4-feet tall can observe the animals
from inside the habitat. “The kids love it,” said Betsie
Meister, assistant curator of mammals at the Detroit Zoo. “They
can’t believe they can get right up close and look eye-to-eye
with the prairie dog. It’s really unique.” Average life span:
3-4 years in the wild; up to 8 years in captivity Height: Head
and body, 12-15 inches; tail, 3-4 inches Weight: 2-4 pounds
Going to town: Prairie dogs live in towns that typically cover
less than a half-square mile. Some prairie dog towns are
enormous, with one in Texas reportedly covering 25,000 square
miles with an estimated 400 million individuals. Birth:
Reproduce once per year, with 3-4 pups Now