The Mouse Dog

There is such a diversity of life at Wichita Mountains wildlife refuge. From large animals like the American Bison, to tiny prairie dogs, many various species make this small corner of the world their residence. Cynomys Ludovicianus, the black-tailed prairie dog, calls the refuge home. He is one of five different species that live in North America, and the most common prairie dog in the United States.

The Greek word Cynomys means “mouse dog,” which is a very accurate description of the prairie dog. With a body length of fourteen to seventeen inches, small rounded ears, and short legs, this little rodent is very akin to its mouse relative. Its bark gives it the name dog.

Recently at Wichita, I had the privilege to observe a prairie dog town or coterie. These little varmints’ burrowings are essential to the prairie’s ecosystem. Like giant earthworms, they aerate the soil and churn it, bringing necessary nutrients to the surface. Their chirpings added pleasant notes to the somewhat quiet scene. Besides adding sound to the grasslands, prairie dog calls contain specific information as to what kind of predator is approaching, and how fast they are doing it. Some say they even have a distinct call for a human with a gun! I wonder how they were describing the scene of twelve people excitedly gazing at them?! 

Black tailed prairie dogs are diurnal, as they are mostly active at dawn and dusk. The rest of the time is spent in their burrows, taking care of the young, or out in the swards, feeding on the vitamin rich grasses. In winter the prairie dog will leave the burrow to forage, but enters a state of torpor at night. Torpor is similar to hibernation but is involuntary and shorter in duration.

At the Wichita’s, we got a view of a black-tailed prairie dog settlement that was about a half-acre large. Other colonies are much bigger. In Texas, a coterie was reported to cover twenty-five thousand square miles and hold four-hundred thousand occupants! That’s a lot of land and prairie dogs! 

There is so much to discover in God’s world! The black-tailed prairie dog is just one of the millions of fascinating creatures that roam this earth! From the largest to the smallest, animals are only a part of our Creator’s handiwork. It was a pleasure to see prairie dogs at the refuge, and then also learn a bit more about this interesting species!

~Halayah