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By Faith. BLACK-TAILED PRARIE DOG. Physical Characteristics. Black-tailed prairie dogs are 12-15 inches tall. Their tails are 2-3 inches long. They weigh 1-3 pounds. They have black tails and eyes with brown fur. They have short legs and sharp claws. Lifespan.
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By Faith BLACK-TAILED PRARIE DOG
Physical Characteristics • Black-tailed prairie dogs are 12-15 inches tall. Their tails are 2-3 inches long. They weigh 1-3 pounds. They have black tails and eyes with brown fur. They have short legs and sharp claws.
Lifespan • They live 8 years in captivity, but only 3-5 years in the wild.
Eating Habits and Diet • Black-tailed prairie dogs are herbivores. They eat grass sedges (a grass like plant), forbes (flowering plants), roots, seeds, and insects.
Population • There used to be hundreds of millions, but now there are around 10-20 million black-tailed prairie dogs.
Habitat/Range They live in 10 U.S. states, 2 Mexican states, and one Canadian province. They live in deserts and plains. Their small, scattered colonies take up 1-2 million acres.
Adaptations • Pitched warning barks • Camouflage • Strong back legs • This tells others that a predator is coming. • They are brown to blend in with their habitat. • Their back legs are very strong to help them stand tall to look over the grass.
Fun Facts • Most prairie dogs hibernate but black-tailed prairie dogs do not. They live in tunnels.
Endangered Because: • Black-tailed prairie dogs are endangered because of habitat destruction poisoning shooting, and exotic disease.