Fascinating World of Prairie Dogs

Did you know? Prairie dogs are named for their habitat and warning calls, which sound similar to a dog's bark. [VID: Compilation footage of prairie dogs] | Nature | PBS

Prairie dogs are very social creatures that reside in complex burrows belowground. These tunnels house many colonies or towns of prairie dogs. A family unit is referred to as a coterie, which follows a polygynous mating system consisting of one male and several females. Our coterie of black-tailed prairie dogs recently welcomed four new pups, who can now be seen in the Exploration Zone’s prairie dog habitat. Typically, breeding season is mid-March to mid-April and pups are born after a gestation