The Zoo’s prairie dogs live in a colony of approximately 10 animals. Although they may all look very similar in appearance, keepers can often identify individuals by distinct physical characteristics. In some cases black or colored dye may be used to temporarily mark individuals.
Viewing Hints
We invite you to discover the Philadelphia Zoo's large colony of black- tailed prairie dogs in their habitat just in front of the Tree House. The Tree House is located just past Big Cat Falls.
You may observe our prairie dog colony foraging around the outdoor habitat or entering and exiting from any one of the 37 tunnel entries to their underground lodging. Activities that may be observed include: foraging, excavating new tunnels or redigging existing ones, predator patrol, or general interactions with fellow colony members.
Longevity
3-5 years
Reproduction
Breeding season occurs in March/April. Gestation is 30-35 days. A typical litter size is 4-5 pups. A mother prairie dog may have 4 litters in her lifetime. The mother will nurse for up to 40 days. The pups will begin munching on solid foods while nursing and transition easily once monther weans them from the milk.
Behavior
Black-tailed prairie dogs exhibit a very complex social system and are considered more social than most of the other species (except for Gunnison's prairie dog). They communicate through not only a multitude of vocalizations, but through visual cues such as posting (standing on their hind legs), tail flagging, greetings, and through olfactory cues from marking their coteries. They spend much of their time foraging for food items which include insects and grasses. The grasses around the prairie dog colonies are trimmed down very short to allow for better predator viewing.
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