COMMON MYTHS
1)
“Prairie dogs breed like rabbits” They do not. They breed once a year and on average have around 3 to 6 pups. The mother and father both help raise them and are closely bonded with them. Play between parents and pups is common.
“Prairie dogs breed like rabbits” They do not. They breed once a year and on average have around 3 to 6 pups. The mother and father both help raise them and are closely bonded with them. Play between parents and pups is common.2) “Prairie dogs carry lots of diseases” They do not. The main concern of the public is sylvatic plague (bubonic plague). This disease is carried by certain types of fleas that feed on prairie dogs. Prairie dogs do not have a sophisticated immune system and do not technically carry any disease – only the fleas! They can and do get the plague, but if they get it within several days they will come down with symptoms and die. They will die in their burrows far away from the public. The other concern is rabies. Any mammal can acquire rabies, but it is rare in prairie dogs.
“Prairie dogs carry lots of diseases” They do not. The main concern of the public is sylvatic plague (bubonic plague). This disease is carried by certain types of fleas that feed on prairie dogs. Prairie dogs do not have a sophisticated immune system and do not technically carry any disease – only the fleas! They can and do get the plague, but if they get it within several days they will come down with symptoms and die. They will die in their burrows far away from the public. The other concern is rabies. Any mammal can acquire rabies, but it is rare in prairie dogs. 3)“Prairie dogs eat all the vegetation” They do not. Ranchers especially think all the grass is eaten by them and therefore do not leave enough for cattle. It is actually proven that prairie dogs only keep the grasses clipped shorter than 6 inches and this newer growth is more nutritious and is much preferred by the cattle. Some ranchers have been notoriously known for over grazing and perhaps this might be the problem.
“Prairie dogs eat all the vegetation” They do not. Ranchers especially think all the grass is eaten by them and therefore do not leave enough for cattle. It is actually proven that prairie dogs only keep the grasses clipped shorter than 6 inches and this newer growth is more nutritious and is much preferred by the cattle. Some ranchers have been notoriously known for over grazing and perhaps this might be the problem.4)“Cattle will break their legs in the holes” They do not. Cattle and horses do watch where they are walking or running. It is a possibility it could happen in certain areas if they cattle are being worked, i.e. at the gates or at a concentrated area. Out in the field, cattle and prairie dogs can and do co-exist safely.
“Cattle will break their legs in the holes” They do not. Cattle and horses do watch where they are walking or running. It is a possibility it could happen in certain areas if they cattle are being worked, i.e. at the gates or at a concentrated area. Out in the field, cattle and prairie dogs can and do co-exist safely.Prairie dogs are one of the most intelligent of all animals and have existed, according to some researchers, two to three million years. Prairie dogs are rodents and are closely related to the ground squirrel and the golden mantled. Over 95 prcent of the US Prairie dogs have been killed, but they are not considered an endangered species.
