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Show Prarie Dogs Charming Creatures His home is an interesting underground apartment, with a mound around his hole to keep the rain water out. His tunnel is dug straight down and may extend downward as much as 12 feet or more. At the bottom he hollows out several rooms, for sleeping, storing of food and other purposes. He spends the winter secure in his burrow, coming out occasionally on sunny days when there is no wind. One of the most charming wild creatures in the county, the prairie dog, perches with his head held high, carefully watching lest the visitor venture a little too close, whereupon, with a shrill bark he warns the rest of the colony. The business of gathering food stops and they scamper into their holes and the area that only seconds before was filed with activity is suddenly sud-denly quiet and still. Garfield County's popular "Prarie Dog Towns" are currently located near the "Butterfly Museum" on Utah Highway 12 where it meets with U.S. 89, near Ruby's Inn on Utah Highway 63, along Utah Highway 22 between the Bryce junction and Antimony and near the Junction of U-22 and U-12. Once found in great numbers throughout the west, the prairie dog's numbers have been greatly reduced over the last century. cen-tury. The little animal is now on the nation's endangered list and is protected by the government to the dismay of local livestock owners who consider the creature a serious pest and their enemy. Prairie dogs compete voraciously with grass-feeding grass-feeding livestock, eating grasses and roots. Their open burrows are dangerous traps for cows and horses causing many broken legs. Prairie dogs live in family units in large communities which can cover several acres, hence the concept of a "prarie dog town." Their clever, appealing antics make them fun to watch and children especially enjoy them. Each family has its own territory in the community. Outside the breeding season, the sexes appear to occupy separate burrows which they defend fiercely from attack. The fat little animals, each about a foot long, with short, grayish brown coarse fur all share the same feeding grounds without competition. com-petition. Perched on short hind legs, with pouched cheeks and short, flat tail several animals watch with small beady eyes, like sentinels while others feed. Natural enemies beside man, are the coyote, the rattlesnake and the burrowing owl. The little rodent, a member of the ground squirrel family can make a fine pet. Prarie dogs are largely vegetarians but will occasionally eat such things as grasshoppers. |