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Prairie Dog


Prairie Dog
Photo Information
Copyright: WEI C CHANG (rightway) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 71 W: 0 N: 43] (333)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-17
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D70, Nikon AF VR 80-400 ED
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/1250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-04-17 12:49
Viewed: 604
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The prairie dogs (Cynomys) are small, burrowing rodents native to the grasslands of North America. On average, these stout-bodied rodents will grow to be between 12 and 16 inches (30 and 40 cm) long, including the short tail. They are found in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In Mexico, prairie dogs are primarily found in the north satates: Sonora, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Zacatecas and San Luis Potosí; in the U.S., range primarily found west of the Mississippi River, though they have also been introduced in a few eastern locales.


Prairie dogs are named for their habitat and warning call, which sounds similar to a dog's bark. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the name is attested from at least 1774. The 1804 journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition note that in September 1804, they "discovered a Village of an animal the french Call the Prarie Dog"

Its genus, Cynomys, derives from the Greek for "mouse dog."

Biology and behavior:

Fighting Prairie DogsThe highly social prairie dogs live in large colonies or "towns" – collections of prairie dog families that can span hundreds of acres. Families usually consist of 1 male and 2 to 4 females living in a strict pecking order. Prairie dog pups reach sexual maturity at about 3 years of age, and after their third winter the dominant male in a given family will drive them away, forcing them to establish their own families on the edges of the colony. The dominant male will defend the family's borders against rival prairie dogs, and disputes are resolved with fighting. Prairie dogs are also aggressive against predators such as badgers and snakes. Prairie dogs are social animals, however, and often make social visits with each other, and greet each other with a sort of kiss.

Prairie dog tunnel systems help channel rainwater into the water table to prevent runoff and erosion, and can also serve to change the composition of the soil in a region by reversing soil compaction that can be a result of cattle grazing. The tunnels usually have several chambers. Tunnels can descend vertically as much as 5 meters (16 feet), and can extend laterally as much as 30 meters (100 feet). Prairie dogs line their burrows with grass to insulate them, and the earth excavated from the burrow is piled up in mounds around the burrow's entrance. The prairie dogs use these carefully maintained mounds as observation posts.

The prairie dog is well adapted to predators. Using its dichromatic color vision, it can detect predators from afar and then alert other prairie dogs to the danger with a special, high-pitched call. Con Slobodchikoff and others assert that prairie dogs use a sophisticated system of vocal communication to describe specific predators.[3][6] Prairie dogs also trim the vegetation around their colonies, perhaps to remove any cover for predators.[7] Their burrows generally contain several routes of escape.[3]

The prairie dog is chiefly herbivorous, though it eats some insects. It feeds primarily on grasses and, in the fall, broadleaf forbs. Prairie dogs have up to 4 pups yearly, which are born blind and furless and need about 30 days of close nurturing from their mother.

From Wikipedia
nglen, writerscrawlz, PaulGana, pekkavalo1, Jamesp, gpeler, Luis52, rcrick, claudine, jaycee has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1991 W: 5 N: 5557] (20998)
  • [2008-04-17 12:55]

Hi Wei. A good close up of the Prairie dog. You have captured fine detail and colour in the fur. A nice pose with the paws holding the food. good use of the light . well done TFS.
Nick..

I have to admit missing these critters - this brings back wonderful memories. I agree that it is a nice close up, especially with food in the paws.

They are fun to watch, and when I lived in Denver (no camera then), I would watch them for hours. Nice job on the capture.

great focus, surprised you were able to get this close to one, I never have been able to. Good detail as well and love the timing with it having it's meal

Hi Wei,

Nice capture of very interesting creature - the Prairie Dog in action. Good composition, sharpness of details and natural colours.

TFS

Pekka

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
  • [2008-04-17 14:58]

Hi Wei

Great close-up - excellent pose and good detail.

TFS

JAmes

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 240 W: 8 N: 607] (1929)
  • [2008-04-17 18:18]

Great shot Wei,
Very sharp image with wonderful details. Nice natural colours, and you caught him just as he was having lunch. Good job!!
Ron

Hello Wei,
Very nice close-up photo of this sweet creature. Very nice composition and the sharpness of the photo is excellent. TFS
Have a nice weekend.
Best Regards
Gamze:)

Hi Wei
What a nice animal and good picture. Nice colours and good sharpness. Composition also well.
Thanks for sharing
Ania

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2802] (10144)
  • [2008-04-18 17:43]

Hi Wei.
I have the privilege to see this guys very often, in my way to the ranch were I work and in his Natural site. (In Coahuila state as You said in Your note) They are very nice little friends and very easy to catch sometimes.
Saludos My friend
Luis52.

Hi Wei,

Many thanks for the feedback much appreciated, this is a wonderful shot of a prairie dog, superb detail, the vertical crop is perfect, good separation from the OOF background, well framed and composed, nice work :)

Cheers Rick ....

Hi Wei,
This is a very nice and cute creature. I always loved them but I never had the chance to see one in real :) This is a nice portrait in action with good details. A little more light in its eye would have been a plus. Well seen and well done!
Claudine

Adorable close-up. What a fun photo...he is completely unaware of your presence. Great shot! ;)

  • Great 
  • izler Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1263 W: 78 N: 873] (7898)
  • [2008-04-28 5:10]

hello wei
here is a wonderful capture and cute species
i like composition, pose, POV and sharpness
TFS
regards
izler

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1786 W: 8 N: 4638] (14987)
  • [2008-04-30 16:55]

Hi Wei,

I have always thought that Prairie Dogs were adorable - and this one really is. I love the food in both paws! Nice natural colors, good details, and a marvelous pose.

Jane

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