Show Navigation

Chuck Schneebeck Photography

  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Contact
  • Archive
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • Pricing and Print Options

Chuck Schneebeck Photography

All Galleries
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x
Add to Cart Download

14 images Created 5 Jun 2019

Prairie Dogs

Black-tailed Prairie Dogs

Prairie dogs are a type of ground squirrel that live in the grasslands of North America. They are herbivorous and dig extensive systems of burrows. They are called prairie dogs because of a warning call that is similar to a dog’s bark. Meriwether Lewis described them in 1806 as a “barking squirrels.” Black-tailed prairie dogs once numbered in the hundreds of millions – maybe even over a billion – and were possibly the most abundant mammal in North America. But as ranching and farming filled the grasslands of North America there was an aggressive effort to eradicate them from the land. They were believed to be competing for feed for cattle, and the burrows they created were despised by farmers. Their numbers have decreased by over 95%. Today, they may number around 10-20 million. Removal of prairie dogs has altered the ecosystem, as they were a primary food source for a variety of mammal and avian predators. The following photos were taken after a March snowstorm in Louisville, Colorado. To see the text for each photo, view in full size.
View: 100 | All

Loading ()...

  • Members of the same prairie dog family often spend time in contact with each other.
    DSC_1133.jpg
  • Prairie dogs have many different postures.  I think this one may have been giving a blessing to others in the prairie dog town.
    DSC_1164.jpg
  • These prairie dogs are doing the territorial call or "jump-yip" display.  Often this call results in nearby dogs doing the call as well.  In general, prairie dogs have a relatively sophisticated system of communication
    DSC_1168.jpg
  • An example of prairie dog’s being in close contact while looking for danger.
    DSC_1176.jpg
  • It looks as if there is comfort in scanning for predators with a family member in close contact.
    DSC_1188.jpg
  • Sometimes being close results in a back rub, and when that happens the one giving the massage might just find that it is the only one with eyes open to look for predators.
    DSC_1193.jpg
  • A “jump-yip” display.
    DSC_1238.jpg
  • When you see more than one prairie dog with others, you can be sure that they are from the same family and reside in the same territory as interlopers would be chased away.
    DSC_1251.jpg
  • Hugging and kissing are not necessarily part of a mating ritual.  It is common for members of the same family to hug, kiss, and have physical contact as part of being a family.
    DSC_1261.jpg
  • The long sharp claws of a prairie dog are a necessary structure of a burrowing mammal.
    DSC_1294.jpg
  • A cold nose results in a unique call.  It seems kind of rude.
    DSC_1374.jpg
  • When prairie dogs cuddle, they are just plain cute.
    untitled-27.jpg
  • Snuggle time.
    untitled-29.jpg
  • Nothing like a great big kiss.  Apparently, this behavior is part of bonding, but not necessarily a part of mating.  Unlike most rodents, prairie dogs mate once a year and have only a single litter of three to eight pups.  Typically, only about half of their offspring survive the first year.
    untitled-35.jpg