Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-27
Written for The Evening Star.
IN PRAIRIE DOG TOWNS,
How the Curious Little Animals Construct
Their Dwellings.

How the Curious Little Animals Construct
Their Dwellings.
ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING
~ sights that greets the eye of the overland
traveller in the west is the prairie dog and
the prairie dog towns. Perhaps nowhere can
more strictly American characteristic be
found than these little four-footed animals
that are to be found in colonies of thousands
in many localities throughout the great west
To those of us here in the east they may
readily be compared to the common wood
chuck, resembling them both in structure and
habits, although the dogs are Of decidedly
gregarious nature. while the 'chuchi' are only
nominally SO. Just how the little fellows
manage to live is somewhat of a question, as
they are usually found in the very poorest
sections of the country, often miles from the
water and where very little grass or vegetable
matter is to be found In fact it is a cmmon
saying on the frontier that wherever dog town
exists it is a good country to keep away from.
THEIR HABITS.
They are curious little animals, easily
alarmed. and the grotesque sight of thirty or
frequently witnessed. The first thing that
greets the visitor is white spot here and there
on the bare earth as he approaches the village
these are the old holes, fOrsaken years ago-a
little further and rude misshapen mounds of
earth are found, with partly filed burrows
leading down into their more recently aban-
doned dwellings, and then the inhabited ones A
barking, scampering lot of dog welcome you
AMI while some plunge at once ont Of sight
others squat low down at the entrance and
while keeping up a constant barking carefully
watch Your movements.
THE BURROWS.
Curious things, these burrows. First a
mound Of earth is thrown up, in the top of
which is the entrance an from which the dirt
comprising the mound is brought. The open
ing descends at an angle of about AS for two
or three feet and then branches off at right
angles. tunneling the earth in various directions
and often making regular network of subter-
ranean passages. Occasionally but not often,
this angle is much less. resembling the burrow
of a woodchuck for all the world, but have
met with only few such, probably a half
dozen in all. At the mouth of the excavation
the earth is beaten down hard. forming in
some instances rim, near which the owner
sits and barks from morning until night. 1t
is useless to shoot one sitting thus, for even if
killed stone dead they manage to drop back
into the holes and out of reach, while such n
thing az a wounded dog being captured is
seldom heard Of.
burrow, three four frequently diving into
the same one. This has given to many the idea
that several families live together but this idea
is erroneous Each pair apparently has its own
burrOw, and only in case of danger do they
make use of one in common, when the nearest
dwelling is a common haven of refuge.
ANOTHER ERRONEOUS IMPRESSION
is that the rattlesnakes, dogs and o small bur-
rowing owl that inhabits these villages dwell to-
gether in harmony. Travellers and writer's have
told this for many years, but recent investiga-
tons have exploded this pretty modern story OF
| the lion and the lamb.
To begin with, the burrowing owl when free
| from intrusion will almost invariably be found
| in the old deserted burrows already mentioned
and here when hungry the rattlesnakes repair,
| able to secure. Naturally enough when alarmed
all three are apt to make for the same retreat
and it is in such cases that they have been found
| and tho story circulated.
Prairie dogs are cunning little creatures, make
amusing and interesting pets, as they easily
tanned and can be taught to do few tricks
while to the hungry man they are not unpalata-
BILE ss an article of food, and even pronounced
quite tender and delicate by some.
| In Shackelford county, Texas, about fifteen
miles northwest Of Albany, is an immense
colony, extending for miles and covering hun
dreds of acres of otherwise barren ground
while near Albany approaching fromrthe south
west up to within mile of the town is a colony
even larger. A good idea OF prairie dog town
can be obtained from the Enclosure at the
Geological Park, although here the animals are
not in their native element, and of course,
| show to disadvantage. Here they are tame
while there it is difficult to approach within
thirty or forty yards. E. NJ. A