Prairie Dog

As of 7 June 2024, our prairie dogs have moved to another zoo. In the prairie dog enclosure now live dwarf mongooses. Are you curious about the reason for this move? Read more information here.

They can see and hear you from afar. With a high-pitched beep, they let each other know that a threat is on the way. But, if you stop for a moment at the enclosure, the coast is declared safe and they crawl out of their holes again. They stand on their hind legs and keep a sharp eye on you, one wrong move and they disappear immediately! The Prairie Dogs are fast and observant animals with an impressive underground 5-Star Villa. Unfortunately, you can't see any of that on the outside, but they build their own bathroom, kitchen and living room where they stay with the whole family, that sounds cozy!

General information prairie dog

Scientific name: Cynomys ludovicianus

Prairie dogs belong to the squirrel family. They are reddish, beige or light brown in color with a dark tail tip. They got the name prairie dog from the characteristic barking sound these animals make. They are social diurnal animals that inhabit extensive burrows in groups of up to 20 animals.In the wild, they eat mainly grasses and seeds, insects and occasionally carrion.