Information about Prairie Dogs Archives

Treatment of malocclusion in squirrel

August 27, 2017 by PDP

This is an interesting article about a squirrel with malocclusion. Over the years we have captured prairie dogs with similar problems. Sometimes a simple clipping of the teeth sets them to right. Other times the malocclusion cannot be rectified and the animal cannot be released. In these cases the prairie dog and the person fostering it face a decision of removing the incisors or a lifetime of trimming. Jim T previously and is currently fostering such a prairie dog.

Here’s the original note that appeared on our Facebook page: Congrats to Mikey! As he was processing in today, doing the 2/4/20 (2 eyes, 4 teeth, 20 toes) he noted that the PD had ram’s horn teeth. The disorder is usually caused by dislocation of the teeth preventing them from meeting and keeping the upper and lower incisors in check. In this particular case the PD had been born without lower teeth, or had lost them at some point in its life. Eventually they would have grown through roof of the mouth and caused death by starvation or infection. YB and C Rex, trimmed the teeth but without lower teeth to keep the uppers in check, it is likely this this PD will not be released. While I don’t have a picture the upper teeth were about 1″ long and curved back into the mouth. The fact that this PD did not starve indicates that he was able to get enough nutrition using his molars.

It is reassuring that the treatment seems to work well for prairie dogs as well. Read More: Treatment of malocclusion in squirrel

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Setting right the myths about prairie dogs

August 25, 2017 by PDP

Right up front, I am stating that I am not worried about getting the plague, my horses are not going to break their legs in prairie dogs holes and prairie dogs have not destroyed any of my plantings (since they graze primarily on grasses).

Court mandates protection of Utah Prairie Dogs on non-federal lands

August 23, 2017 by PDP

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver has issued a mandate which reinstates Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulation of the threatened Utah prairie dog on non-federal lands. The decision overturns a 2014 U.S. District Court for the District of Utah decision that removed federal ESA protection for the species on non-federal lands and transferred management to the State of Utah. The species is now regulated under the ESA across all land ownerships.

Black-tailed prairie dogs at home in the heart of a West Texas town

August 19, 2017 by PDP

A visit to prairie dog towns in Odessa was not on my agenda during a recent vacation to Big Bend National Park.

But a mountain bicycle accident had me laid up for week in the city’s hospital, while Kathy gave me daily reports about prairie dogs she had seen between the hotel and the hospital. She told me how the squirrel-size mammals stood smartly on their hind legs atop cone-shaped dirt mounds over an intricate network of subterranean abodes forming their townships.

Of Cadillacs and Prairie Dogs

June 20, 2017 by PDP

On a summer evening years ago, I dined with a group of friends at a rural Midwest restaurant where the parking lot was a patch of rough ground without marked bays. We came out to find a Cadillac parked close in beside our car. Edging into the gap between the vehicles (the other side was also tight), we did our best to get the doors far enough open to slide in without dinging the Cadillac. Our close approach triggered the Cadillac’s motion-sensitive theft alarm. A loud synthesized voice told us: “You are standing too close to the car! Step! Away! From the car!”