How do black-tailed prairie dogs live?
Black-tailed prairie dogs are very social animals who live in territorial family groups called coteries. A coterie usually contains an adult male, one or more adult females, and their young. As young male prairie dogs mature, they move out of their home coterie in order to find or create new coteries. Coteries are clustered together in wards (or subdivisions) to form larger towns or colonies, which create increased protection from predators. Wards are usually divided by topographical features such as trees or hills. Interactions are mostly amicable among prairie dogs belonging to the same coterie and involve verbal communications, play and grooming. Interactions among prairie dogs from different coteries tend to be less friendly and even hostile, involving territorial disputes and associated aggressive behaviors.
Black-tailed prairie dogs are very social animals who live in territorial family groups called coteries. A coterie usually contains an adult male, one or more adult females, and their young. As young male prairie dogs mature, they move out of their home coterie in order to find or create new coteries. Coteries are clustered together in wards (or subdivisions) to form larger towns or colonies, which create increased protection from predators. Wards are usually divided by topographical features such as trees or hills. Interactions are mostly amicable among prairie dogs belonging to the same coterie and involve verbal communications, play and grooming. Interactions among prairie dogs from different coteries tend to be less friendly and even hostile, involving territorial disputes and associated aggressive behaviors.
