Liberty Township near Powell in Delaware County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Profile of a Prairie Dog
(Prairie Dogs are Rodents)
Common name: Black-Tailed Prairie Dog
Scientific name: Cynomys ludovicianus
Habitat and Distribution: grasslands of the Great Plains from northern Mexico to southern Colorado
Size: 14 to 17 inches
Weight: one to three pounds
Diet: primarily grasses; also forbs, seeds and insects
Lifespan: females - up to 8 years; males - rarely more than 5 years
Gestation: 35 days
Litter Size: one to six pups
Related species: Mexican prairie dog, white-tailed prairie dog, Gunnison's prairie dog, Utah prairie dog
Status: Since 1900, prairie dog populations have been reduced up to 98% in some areas and eliminated in others. This is due to habitat destruction and prairie dog control programs.
The Burrow of a Prairie Dog
A large black-tailed prairie dog town may contain hundreds of animals and cover a square mile or more. Each town is made up of several neighborhoods which are divided into territories. The group of prairie dogs that lives in a territory is called a coterie (KO-ter-ee).
Erected by Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Little House on the Prairie (a few steps from this marker); Canada Lynx (within shouting distance of this marker); Prairie Sampler (within shouting distance of this marker); Wetlands Conservation Projects (within shouting distance of this marker); Federal Conservation History of the Bald Eagle (within shouting distance of this marker); Bald Eagles in Ohio (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Bernard Master (within shouting distance of this marker); North American River Otter (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Powell.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 70 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 28, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
