Prairie dogs (most often black-tailed prairie dogs) are becoming popular as pets. Like all rodents, they have teeth that continually grow throughout life. They are active, playful and sturdy rodents and can make wonderful, affectionate pets if purchased young, socialized properly and given lots of attention .
Can prairie dogs be litter trained?
They do not need a lot of space as long as they have an area they can consider their own. They generally defecate in one spot and can be litter box trained . Corn cob is recommended as cat litter is very dusty and prairie dogs can be allergic to cedar.
Do prairie dogs bite hard?
They can be affectionate but they can also bite . The Prairie dog as a pet is for humans totally committed to them. They are not the kind of animal you can normally share with your friends. They tolerate strangers very well but they will even bite the hand of their caretaker.
How long do prairie dogs live as pets?
Although the prairie dog has been known to live for up to eight years in captivity, their average life span in the wild is typically three to four years.
Are prairie dogs aggressive?
However, they do demand a lot of care and attention so prairie dogs represent a significant commitment. They are not suitable pets for everyone and may not be considered the best family pet (especially with small children) as they can become difficult and aggressive if not regularly handled .
Are prairie dogs intelligent?
Prairie dogs are intelligent animals with complex communication. They have a range of different barks and chirps for communicating different messages. They have specific calls for specific predators, and even have a specific alarm call for humans with a gun.
What do you do if a prairie dog bites you?
5. Notify a physician if bitten by a flea or a prairie dog or at the onset of a fever and/or flu-like symptoms within 14 days of the relocation activity or their last contact with prairie dogs, or with any other concerns. 6. Sick, lethargic, or dead (cause unknown) prairie dogs should not be handled.
What do prairie dogs do in the winter?
Prairie dogs don’t hibernate, but when the winter weather is extremely cold or snowy, they may go into a light hibernation-like sleep and stay in their burrows for a few days .
Are prairie dogs fast?
Their short, strong arms and long-nailed toes help them to dig burrows. Although their legs are short, prairie dogs can run up to 35 mph at short distances to escape predators for the safety of their burrows.
What can I feed a prairie dog?
Similar to rabbits, prairie dogs require a diet high in fresh fiber. Feeding hay is essential, mainly timothy or other grass hay , avoiding large amounts of the richer alfalfa hay. Rabbit pellets may be offered in small amounts (about 1⁄4 cup per pet,) decreasing or even eliminating this after 1 year of age.
How do you keep a prairie dog as a pet?
Prairie Dog Housing
Prairie dogs need a naturalistic habitat that allows for burrowing and foraging . Adult prairie dogs can burrow several feet and create chambers, so you will need a room-sized enclosure with concrete borders and at least three feet of subterranean burrowing space.
What kind of cage does a prairie dog need?
Since prairie dogs love to chew, they should not be housed in wooden cages. Rather, stainless steel cages are preferred. To prevent odor buildup and respiratory disease, at least one (and preferable all) sides of the cage should be open to allow adequate ventilation.
What can prairie dogs do?
They are prolific diggers, constructing complex burrow systems with specific areas for sleeping, nursing young, storing food and even disposing of their dead . A single colony’s burrow system can cover thousands of acres, with an average of about 20 prairie dogs per acre in the summer after the young emerge.
Do prairie dogs smell?
The sex of a prairie dog doesn’t make one gender a better pet than the other, with the exception that male prairie dogs possibly have a stronger musky odor than females, but the smell is not unpleasant . Both sexes need to be either spayed or neutered to avoid health issues later in life.
What states do prairie dogs live in?
What Is a Prairie Dog? Despite its name, it is not a dog. It is a burrowing rodent endemic to the western part of the U.S. These burrowers are native to Texas, Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, and other western and central states .
Do prairie dogs understand humans?
“They’re able to describe the colour of clothes the humans are wearing, they’re able to describe the size and shape of humans, even, amazingly, whether a human once appeared with a gun ,” Slobodchikoff said. The animals can even describe abstract shapes such as circles and triangles.
Are prairie dogs smarter than rats?
4 – Prairie Dogs
Unless we’re talking about rats, rodents aren’t exactly famous for their smarts either. Yet mounting research shows that prairie dogs may become the next great mascot for rodent intelligence . Like chickens, prairie dogs also seem to use a number of specific calls to communicate with each other.
Why do prairie dogs scream?
As colonial animals, prairie dogs use their strong voices to communicate to clan or coterie members . Territorial calls reinforce boundaries; a squeak may communicate displeasure, or may be a mother’s signal for her offspring to follow her; and alarm calls expose threats to the unawares.
Can you get rabies from a prairie dog?
Chipmunks, prairie dogs, squirrels and rabbits also do not carry rabies . Exception: one of these small animals actually attacks a human (an unprovoked bite). Sometimes, their bites can get infected. Large Pet Animal Bites.
What is the difference between male and female prairie dogs?
There are no discernible differences in physical appearance between males and females, except during mating season when males will get a little bigger in size due to increased eating . Prairie dogs mate in their chamber and have their babies between January and April.
What does the sylvatic plague do?
Sylvatic plague can decimate prairie dog colonies (90% or greater mortality rates), resulting in local extinctions and population reductions.
Do prairie dogs eat their dead?
Typically, the carcass of a killed juvenile is immediately (or shortly afterward) consumed by the killer and/or opportunistic prairie dogs in the area . This activity – eating of one’s own species – is called cannibalism.
Do prairie dogs kiss?
Prairie dogs do kiss each other . Prairie dogs greet each other by kissing. They kiss by touching each other noses and locking their teeth with one another. The behavior of kissing is associated with their family groups.
How deep do prairie dogs dig?
Black-tailed prairie dog burrows are usually U-shaped with chambers connected by tunnels, and can go 7 to 15 feet (2 to 4.5 meters) deep .
