Prairie dog [ Filler ]

[Still uninspired. Zero frames today, so another filler from our recent trip to South Dakota.]

Probably a Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus). Custer State Park, SD, along Wildlife Loop Rd. Taken through an open car window, this little guy came right up on the roadbed out of curiosity, hunger or both!

From National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/prairie-dog/ » “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 dogs, and groom one another. These group members even greet one another with a prairie dog kiss or nuzzle. Young pups are very playful and can often been seen romping near their burrows.

“Black-tailed prairie dogs, the best known of the five prairie dog species, live in larger communities called towns, which may contain many hundreds of animals. Typically they cover less than half a square mile (1.3 square kilometers), but some have been enormous. The largest recorded prairie dog town covered some 25,000 square miles (65,000 square kilometers). That Texas town was home to perhaps four hundred million prairie dogs.

“These large squirrels emerge from their burrows in daylight to forage and feed on grasses, roots, and seeds. They communicate with loud cries. A warning cry, for example, will send a town's denizens hustling to their holes at the approach of a badger, coyote, or other predator. A second, 'all-clear' call alerts the community when the danger has passed.

“Much of the Great Plains has been converted to farming or pastureland, and prairie dogs are not often welcome in such places. Because of their destructive landscaping, they are often killed as pests. During the 20th century, about 98 percent of all prairie dogs were exterminated, and their range has shrunk to perhaps five percent of its historic spread.”

There are only 5 species of prairie dog and South Dakota is out-of-range for
» Gunnison's prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni),
» White-tailed prairie dog (C. leucurus),
» Utah prairie dog (C. parvidens) and
» probably Mexican prairie dog (C. mexicanus), leaving only
the Black-tailed prairie dog (C. ludovicianus) as what this little guy probably is.

1 year ago (“Lying in the sunshine”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2015-05-02
2 years ago (“Last day of class”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2014-05-02
3 years ago (“Eastern Tailed-Blue”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-05-02
4 years ago (“Liquid assets”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-05-02
5 years ago (“Right! … What’s a cubit?”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-05-02

[ IMG_0440e325cwS8x12Atm :: f/7.1 :: 1/500" :: ISO-200 :: 250mm ]

[Simply Amanda]

I see it's shadow!!!