A Gallery of Gratitude: Meet Our Prairie Dogs & Their Generous Donors
Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs Cynomys ludovicianus
Not dogs at all; prairie dogs are actually herbivorous burrowing rodents that belong to the squirrel family, native to the grasslands of North America. They are named for their habitat and warning call, which can sound like a dog's bark.
In the wild, black-tailed prairie dogs are a keystone species - one that many other species, both plant and animal, depend upon for survival. Keystone species are incredibly important to their ecosystems, and if removed, the ecosystem itself may collapse. Prairie dogs do this by being prey, making homes for other animals, clipping vegetation, and much more.
The Binder Park Zoo prairie dogs represent their counterparts in the wild and remind us that everyone can help save keystone species everywhere, including right here in Michigan, by not encroaching upon wildlife in their natural habitats.
