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
Examples of prairie dog in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Just inside the park’s gates, a prairie dog town is home to more than 600 of the engaging rodents, which are part of the squirrel family.
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Marnie Hunter, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Also look out for elk, mountain goats, mountain lions, and prairie dogs.
—Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 14 May 2026
America’s 26th president also inspired the region’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which safeguards his modest log cabin and a pristine slice of the northern mixed grass prairie and many of the species Roosevelt would have encountered, including bison, prairie dogs and wild horses.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
The North American prairie is an ecological marvel, home to some of the nation’s most iconic creatures — bison, elk, wolves, pronghorn, prairie dogs and bald eagles.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
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Marnie Hunter, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Also look out for elk, mountain goats, mountain lions, and prairie dogs.
—Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 14 May 2026
America’s 26th president also inspired the region’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which safeguards his modest log cabin and a pristine slice of the northern mixed grass prairie and many of the species Roosevelt would have encountered, including bison, prairie dogs and wild horses.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
The North American prairie is an ecological marvel, home to some of the nation’s most iconic creatures — bison, elk, wolves, pronghorn, prairie dogs and bald eagles.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
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 18 May. 2026.
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