Illustration of prairie dog
prairie dog
noun
: any of a genus (Cynomys) of gregarious burrowing rodents of the squirrel family chiefly of central and western U.S. plains
especially
: a black-tailed rodent (C. ludovicianus) that usually lives in extensive colonial burrows
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In addition to its dramatic landscapes with layered rock formations, steep canyons, and towering spires, Badlands National Park protects an expanse of mixed-grass prairie among its 244,000 acres, where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live and roam.
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Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Such landscapes were once common in North America — both in the west (where prairie dog colonies provided an abundance of holes) and in Florida (where the owls generally dig their own).
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
People can contract plague after being bitten by infected fleas or touching infected animals like rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, prairie dogs, rabbits, mountain lions, ferrets, and even dogs and cats.
—Alice Park, Time, 21 Aug. 2025
This landscape contains a diverse set of life ranging from bison and prairie dogs to ducks, catfish and alligators.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Aug. 2025
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Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Such landscapes were once common in North America — both in the west (where prairie dog colonies provided an abundance of holes) and in Florida (where the owls generally dig their own).
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
People can contract plague after being bitten by infected fleas or touching infected animals like rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, prairie dogs, rabbits, mountain lions, ferrets, and even dogs and cats.
—Alice Park, Time, 21 Aug. 2025
This landscape contains a diverse set of life ranging from bison and prairie dogs to ducks, catfish and alligators.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prairie dog
Cite this Entry
“Prairie dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prairie%20dog. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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