Evening star., 1944-11-15
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweU.
"BETHESDA. Nd.

dear Sir:
Are there any prairie dogs around
here? I come from 4 section Of the
country where prairie dogs are very
common, and I miss them hereabouts.
At home we had several of them a. pets,
and they were very intelligent and
interesting.
1 would like to know why these AMI
mails are called dogs, a. there ID nothing
doglike about them, ~ far as my ex-
perience goes. They have always ap-
pealed to me, do not know exactly why.
Sincerely, n, Med"
The only place YOU can find prairie
dogs in this vicinity is at the National
Geological Park.
There they may be seen standing like
sentinels at their burrows.
The prairie dog il not 4 dog at all,
but rodent, described In the books a.
- stout-bodied ground squirrel"
1t inhabits the plains region, being
found in Texas, New Mexico, Montana,
wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Kansas.
Kansas seems to be the great prairie
dog State. 1t has the largest prairie dog
village in the world, rivaling Los Angeles
In extent, running for more than 100
miles.
1t Is not to be wondered at that this
social animal builds big cities of its
own, underground villages which have
entrance galleries going down steeply,
then turning abruptly and going along
on the horizontal for hundreds of feet.
These shrewd beasts build many of
their straight runs on 4 slant, 10 that
any water which seeps in may run Oh
and away. OF course, very little water
gets In, since they inhabit only dry
lands.
The prairie dog seems to ret real
pleasure out of standing ut the entrance
OF its burrow and looking over the land
scape for minutes at = time.
At the Zoo they may be seen standing
In this odd, intelligent way Perhaps
they are just enjoying themselves in
the sunshine, but they seem to be look
ing for something, probably enemies.
In their native digginss the worst Of
these are the rattlesnake, coyote, badger
and ferret. At least two of these can
60 into the burrows.
Dogs, and cats, too, are able to destroy
them. Their natural enemies keep down
the numbers, which otherwise would
rival guinea pigs. Here we see another
interesting side OF nature, which, not
interfered with, manages to hold each
of its creatures in check, so that no one
OF them outruns the others in the
population race. 1t Is only when man
enters the scene, and insists on de-
stroying some creature that the others
are given a chance to 20 ahead in this
respect
The prairie dogs tail Is scarcely
worthy OF the name. The legs are short,
and the head rounded, with small ears.
The color ID red-brown on top and
yellow-white beneath. The length is
about IA inches.
marmots and the prairie dogs make a
special sort OF animal group.
Few animals excel the prairie dogs in
digging abilities. Their feet are per-
fectly formed for the exercise, the claws
being very large and capable, giving
somewhat the same impression Of hands
as do the paws Of our gray and red
squirrels
The colonizing habits of this animal
are its unique contribution. As one
might expect, the animal is social to 4
degree, and seems to have worked up q
tolerance and capacity to get along
which mankind might well emulate.
When kept in captivity, 1t is necessary
to fence in their pen clear down to bed
rock, II possible. A solid wall is best.
A prairie dog town Is not fiction,
but reality. II extsnds for miles, and
reminds one OF tales told by weird fiction
writer's OF underground cities.
With mans increase In the ability to
destroy his human snemiss, and 20
himself, there may come Z day when
all left living will b. driven to going
beneath the surfaes Il the earth for
survival
Maybe We can get some tips for that
sad day from the prairie dog towns
and their industrious and peaceful
hAahftants.