Prairie dogs deserve the same level of enclosure that other types of animals do. After all, the animals that share your home aren't just pets, and you're hardly alone in feeling this way. If the rangeland is managed properly from the start, and not over farmed or over grazed, the prairie dogs are not as likely to take over. The average cost of boarding a dog in the U.S. is $30-$50 per night, with upscale pet hotels, which offer perks like swimming pools and webcams, averaging about $75-$95 per night, according to the home services website HomeGuide. You will also need to provide the prairie dog with regular veterinary care to keep it healthy. Generally, a pet prairie dog can cost anywhere between $50-$250. To have a successful prairie dog, he or she will need a large cage (at least 2 x 2x4). How to minimize the risk of antler chews. Dogs can be noisy. The Power Of Oppression In Maya Angelous Caged Bird, Calling The West Valley Animal Shelter: Finding A New Furry Family Member, A Beacon Of Hope: The Olathe Animal Shelter And Its Commitment To Animal Welfare, The Heart And Soul Of Animal Rescue: A Guide To Becoming An Animal Shelter Manager, Helping Local Animal Shelters Find Homes For Their Animals, Verona Street Animal Society: Dedicated To Reducing Animal Homelessness And Providing Quality Care, Giving Our Furry Friends A Second Chance: The Importance Of Animal Shelters, Understanding The Process Of Taking A Pet Bird To An Animal Shelter, Equipping Animal Shelter Workers: The Essential Training For Making A Difference, A Call To Action: Why We Need A New Animal Shelter Now To Help End Homelessness And Animal Cruelty. Few things can compare to the bond a dog has with its owner. Prairie dogs play a vital role in maintaining the prairie ecosystem. Do prairie dogs do better in their natural habitats than in a domesticated one? They are burrowing animals and live in colonies. Prairie dogs, as well as the disadvantages listed above, compete with livestock for grass, though some studies suggest that prairie dogs improve grass, prompting livestock to prefer grass near prairie dogs. Its important to remember that even small children may not always choose them as a pet because they can become difficult, nippy, and aggressive if not properly cared for or socialized. To attract raptorssuch as hawks, owlsand kestrelsyou can provide suitable-sized nesting boxes and artificial perching sites near the colony. Dogs can help you meet new people. Should I Get a Fish as a Pet? Pros and Cons of Getting a Fish They also need to be kept in large groups, so multiple animals will need to be adopted. Are prairie dogs cute? The pros include their intelligence, social nature, and cleanliness. Check with your state before getting a prairie dog to be sure you're in compliance with local and state laws. Because of human activity, the health of these animals is also in jeopardy. Farmers and ranchers believe they are a threat to their livelihoods, which is why they resort to shooting, poisoning, contest kills, and even bulldozing when confronted with urban development plans. If you are looking for a prairie dog for breeding purposes, the cost can be significantly higher depending on the species and age of the animal. There are differences between species, such as the fact that some behaviors (such as grooming each other) are specific to a specific species (such as black-tail prairie dogs), but most behaviors are observed across all. Please take time to read this section in its entirety. Farmers may be negatively impacted by prairie dogs because they compete for food, crop damage, and spread disease. Both sexes must be neutered or spayed in order to avoid health problems later in life. It is not their desire to return to the wild. Prairie dogs burrows attract pests, but their yards are also damaged. Prairie dogs are a popular pet choice for people who are looking for a small, intelligent, and affectionate animal. Prairie Dogs, Persistent Plague, Flocking Fleas, And Pernicious Positive Feedback. They also need to be fed a special diet of prairie dog food, which can be purchased from pet stores. . They also prune their foliage to improve their line of sight, stunting their growth. Do the cons greatly outweigh the pros? They are vilified and managed as destructive rodent pests in some locations. Pros Cons And Policies Explored, Bring Your Pet Along To Ascend Amphitheater: All You Need To Know About Rules And Restrictions, Explore St Petersburg With Your Furry Friend: A Guide To The Top Pet-Friendly Hotels In The City, Traveling With Your Pet: What You Need To Know About Staying At La Quinta Inns, Tips For Writing A No-Pets Clause In A Rental Agreement And The Potential Legal Implications, Explore The Wonders Of Shipshewana Flea Market: A Pet-Friendly Shopping Experience, Finding Pet-Friendly Student Dorms: What To Consider And Options Available, Exploring The Pet Policies At The Milwaukee County Zoo, Pets In The US Air Force: All You Need To Know About The Regulations And Benefits, Traveling With A Pet In Europe: All You Need To Know About Regulations And Requirements For Pet Travel On Trains. Prairie dogs are social creatures and live in family groups. Prairie dogs prefer temperatures in the 70s Fahrenheit range. The United States currently does not prohibit the ownership of prairie dogs as pets, but this may change in the future. Their coat is soft and wonderfully fluffy. They are also burrowers, so youll need to provide them with a digging box or an area where they can dig. Both my brother and my sister adopted dogs from a rescue shelter. Once you understand the role native predators can play in helping to reduce prairie dog colony size, you may want to tolerate their presence in order to set up a natural balance that will reduce your problems. Furs of the black-tail prairie dog are frequently blended with soil. For this reason, they may not be suitable to a home with small children who may handle the pet unsupervised. - Milan Kundera. Dr. Diehl is a passionate veterinarian pursuing specialty medicine with over 6 years' experience with exotic pets. Are prairie dogs dangerous? Clipping and digging by prairie dogs results in the growth of more shrubby plants and forbs. A prairie dog in the wild typically has three to four years of life left. Because burrows and colonies use the same amount of space as crops, grasslands can be difficult to navigate for livestock, but their benefits include providing food for many animals and creating habitat for up to 150 other species. Pet prairie dogs are commonly obese, have dental problems, are ill with respiratory diseases, have heart disease, and suffer from parasites. Frontiers Media SA, doi:10.3389/fvets.2019.00075. Why Does My Bird Climb Around Its Cage At Night? The prairie dog is also a major food source for predators such as coyotes, hawks, and even black-footed ferrets. Research has shown that "dusting" colonies with insecticides such a deltamethrim (delta dust) or pyraperm not only kills fleas but may also stop the outbreak of this exotic disease in colonies that have already been infected. Prairie dogs are diurnal, meaning that they are active during the daytime hours and sleep at night. Any importation, transportation, or release of live wild animals into the state is prohibited by the law (17-306). Antler chews will never be entirely safe for any dog, and the risks of damage to the teeth, mouth, jaw, or guts will always be there. Efforts to educate people about the health risks they face and to reduce those risks can be effective in this regard. In general, these creatures are peaceful and cooperative, though competition is required in order to survive. As a result, it is clear why many farmers and ranchers do not like prairie dogs. Should I get a dog? Pros and Cons of owning a dog Prairie dogs are known to flee from conflicts in the wild. Jessica Alexander, a program associate at WWFs Northern Great Plains office, experienced the worst animal bite shed ever experienced when she was bitten by a prairie dog as a child. Many people are interested in the fact that prairie dogs can pass the bacterium that causes bubonic plague to other dogs. Adult Size: 11 to 13 inches long; weighing 1 to 3.5 pounds. Additionally, prairie dogs can get nippy if frustrated or handled incorrectly. Ultimately, the decision to bring a prairie dog into your home should be made carefully, as these animals require a significant amount of time, space, and commitment from their owners. In Maryland, prairie dogs have been illegal to own and sell since the mid-1980s, and any animals found there will be kept under quarantine to prevent the disease from spreading. To schedule an exotic vet appointment, you must go to your local veterinarian. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Dogs and cats, for example, are domesticated animals that are fed a mostly processed diet consisting of carbohydrates and processed foods. If you want to buy a prairie dog, you should first contact your local animal shelter or wildlife rescue organization to see if there are any injured, orphaned, or surrendered prairie dogs for adoption. In order to provide the best level of care possible, they require a long-term commitment from an owner who is dedicated to the mission. Why Own a Prairie Dog as a Pet? - Exotic Nutrition P-dogs require constant company, and they are extremely social animals. In captivity, prairie dogs eat a simple vegetarian diet of pellets, fresh hay, grasses, fresh fruits, vegetables, and water. Emily Estep is a biologist and fact checker focused on environmental sciences. Although eating prairie dogs is unlikely to cause illness, you should clean them thoroughly before cooking them to ensure they are safe. As they become difficult, nippy, and aggressive when not properly handled or socialized, they may not be the best family pet (especially for young children). They can be trained to do tricks and love to explore their environment. Can I Bring My Pet To The Tattoo Shop? The three prairie dogs kept in a large cage have been there for many years, and only once a week has they needed to be cleaned. If youre looking for a unique pet, you may be wondering what states allow for the owning of prairie dogs. Prairie dogs, on the other hand, contribute to the health of the land and attract predators, both of which are beneficial to farmers. When they kiss, they interact with each other in a variety of ways, including playing or grooming. Missouri, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming are the only states that do not allow the possession of prairie dogs. Which states are allowed to have prairie dogs? Furthermore, this increases the likelihood of more biodiverse and healthy habitats despite the fact that it may appear to some that are not in our interests. Axolotl (Mexican Walking Fish): Species Profile. They also have a tendency to bite when they feel threatened or scared, which can be a problem if you have small children in the home. The Pros & Cons of Owning a Dog (8 Things to Consider) A prairie dog makes a good pet if he or she is purchased as a puppy, socialized properly, and given a lot of attention. There are populations of this species found at higher elevations (called montane populations) and lower elevations (called prairie populations), according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). These plants require only a few drops of water per day and a few small amounts of food. Because prairie dogs live underground, finding them can be difficult. Are prairie dogs dangerous? All large rodents, including prairie dogs, are considered prohibited in New York. The care info blog is a great place to start if you think a prairie dog is the right pet for you. Many people have been attacked by prairie dogs after being taken in by them and mistakenly giving them away as pets. The prairie dog kisses to acknowledge others in his family. Theyre very content in your home once theyve been integrated into it and bonded with you. They are social animals and do best in pairs or small groups, so if youre considering one as a pet, be prepared to adopt more than one. However, if you choose to give your dog antler chews, there are ways to minimize the risk: 1. The Pros And Cons Of Prairie Dogs Farmers may be negatively impacted by prairie dogs because they compete for food, crop damage, and spread disease. Prairies with aggressive burrowing will attempt to devour the other. Text STOP to 77879 to opt out, HELP for info. Ultimately these health issues are due to a mismanaged habitat and, as with many systemic diseases, symptoms are often vague and non-specific. Dogs can offer protection. Owning A Pet Raccoon: Legal Practical And Ethical Considerations. This is around the time when they breed and then pups are collected. 4607 Lakeview Canyon Road #545 Westlake Village, CA 91361, 2023 Celestial Pets | Site Privacy Policy. 5. Captive Pet Prairie Dog Caging and Enclosures A prairie dog is a wild animal that is happy to be a pet as well as a wild animal. Always supervise your dog with an antler chew. Pitbulls range from Arizona to Colorado, as well as New Mexico and Utah (USDAFSW 2008). As predators and scavengers, dogs and cats evolved a skewed preference for meat, bones, and other animal products as a result of these evolutionary changes. In the United States, the plague bacteria can spread to human skin or mucous membranes by coming into contact with them. It's higher in protein content than beef but also lower in fat content. While it is not legal to own one in all states, some states do allow for their ownership as pets. The town of Fremont met recently to discuss the pros and cons of protecting prairie dogs. We acknowledge that it is quite lengthy to read. Because of the fact that these animals require specialized care and their native habitats cannot be replicated in a home setting, they are frequently kept in specialized conditions. For some, prairie dogs can present challenges as their burrow mounds and colonies use the same space as crops and can make grasslands difficult to navigate for livestock. They may not be as affectionate as some other animals, but they do bite. In an effort to control their population, thousands of prairie dog pups are collected each spring and summer by vacuuming them out of their burrows. This method can help to even out the teeth. You can only keep dogs of the same gender together if they breed. When baby Prairie dogs are weaned and then brought up in a human . The prairie dog is an intelligent animal with complex communication capabilities. This social animal brutally murders Wyoming ground squirrels, leaving their bloody bodies to rot. Wild prairie dogs are sold to the general public or as pets by USDA licensees. This creates more biodiverse and healthy habitat even though it may not look the way some of us want it to. It is recommended that they eat mostly grasses and other plants, with a small amount of animal protein on occasion. Close your eyes and jump, for you will fall on the back of a big fish which will carry you to your destination". You should also offerwhole oats and fresh vegetables, including raw sweet potatoes and raw carrots. Prairie dogs have a typical lifespan of 4 to 5 years, but can live up to 8 years in captivity. They can be kept in captivity for up to 12 years at a time. Additionally, it's hard for some folks to give up a grassy looking turf.
