by Zoë Kashner

Prairie Dogs

Prairie dogs are rodents. This group of animals includes mice and squirrels. Prairie dogs live in North America in grassy lands called prairies.

Prairie dogs are about the size of rabbits. They live in homes under the ground called burrows. Tunnels connect the homes to the grass above. When it’s time to look for food, prairie dogs pop out of their tunnels. They eat grasses and seeds.

A group of burrows is called a town. A town can be from one to one thousand acres long. In a town, the animals form smaller groups. These groups take care of each other like a family. Family members greet each other by touching teeth.

by Zoë Kashner

Prairie Dogs

Title: Prairie Dogs Page: 1Level: N

Inside each burrow are many rooms. More tunnels connect the rooms. There are rooms for sleeping and rooms for taking care of the babies. Prairie dogs wait in special spaces near the tunnel exits. Here, they listen for animals that might harm them.

Prairie dogs look out for each other above ground, too. Animals, such as badgers, can hurt prairie dogs. So prairie dogs always look around for danger. If they spot an animal that can hurt them, they bark. The bark warns other prairie dogs of danger. Then they race back to their burrows. When the danger has passed, prairie dogs make a different bark. That’s how they know it’s safe to come out again and play!

Title: Prairie Dogs Page: 2Level: N

© 2014 Amplify Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Cover: Christine Gehrig/iStockphoto; Page 1: Jamie Hide/iStockphoto