The Bison,
scientifically referred to as bison,bison roamed the prairie in millions ,but slaughter by the early European settlers brought them almost to extinction. Since then, due largely to the efforts of the American Bison Society, they now live in a semiwild state, and it is estimated that there are now some 20,000 animals. The male may be as much as nine feet long. They are humped and covered with the shaggy, brownish-black fur that also grows thickly on the head, neck and forelegs. Both male and female have short, sharp horns. Bison live in herds of thousands. They feed morning and evening. During the day, they rest, chewing the cud or wallowing in mud or dust to rid themselves of parasites. THE BISON IS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES BUT IS AT A LOWER RISK AND IS CONSERVATION DEPENDENT.
scientifically referred to as bison,bison roamed the prairie in millions ,but slaughter by the early European settlers brought them almost to extinction. Since then, due largely to the efforts of the American Bison Society, they now live in a semiwild state, and it is estimated that there are now some 20,000 animals. The male may be as much as nine feet long. They are humped and covered with the shaggy, brownish-black fur that also grows thickly on the head, neck and forelegs. Both male and female have short, sharp horns. Bison live in herds of thousands. They feed morning and evening. During the day, they rest, chewing the cud or wallowing in mud or dust to rid themselves of parasites. THE BISON IS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES BUT IS AT A LOWER RISK AND IS CONSERVATION DEPENDENT.
The Badger,
scientifically referred to as taxidea,taxus is an animal with a stocky, powerful build, having four short, strong legs and large, sharp claws. It has a long, pointy nose, with a white streak from the tip of it all the way down its back.Its tail is short and bushy. Males are 21-29 inches long and females are 17-26 inches long and their average weight is 9-27 pounds.The badger is a carnivore, eating mostly meat like small mammals, lizards, snakes, insects and carrion. Badgers are one of the only animals which can kill and eat rattle snakes. Badgers are fearless hunters.The badger has sharp powerful claws for digging and a strong jaw with sharp teeth for tearing apart meat. The badger has poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell. Sometimes it pairs up with coyotes for hunting ground squirrels.
scientifically referred to as taxidea,taxus is an animal with a stocky, powerful build, having four short, strong legs and large, sharp claws. It has a long, pointy nose, with a white streak from the tip of it all the way down its back.Its tail is short and bushy. Males are 21-29 inches long and females are 17-26 inches long and their average weight is 9-27 pounds.The badger is a carnivore, eating mostly meat like small mammals, lizards, snakes, insects and carrion. Badgers are one of the only animals which can kill and eat rattle snakes. Badgers are fearless hunters.The badger has sharp powerful claws for digging and a strong jaw with sharp teeth for tearing apart meat. The badger has poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell. Sometimes it pairs up with coyotes for hunting ground squirrels.
The Black-footed Ferret,
scientifically referred to as Mustela, putorius, furo Black-footed ferrets are long, slender animals. The average size is eighteen to twenty four inches long including a five to six inch tail, and one to two pounds in weight.
Black-footed ferrets spend the majority of their time in vacant prairie dog burrows. They venture above ground at night mainly to go from one burrow to the next to look for prey.
Prairie dogs make up over ninety percent of the black-footed ferret’s diet. The ferret enters a burrow and, upon finding a prairie dog, administers a throat bite thus suffocating the prairie dog. One black-footed ferret eats one prairie dog every three days. Ferrets cache or store their food thus minimizing aboveground exposure to other predators. The most common predators on ferrets are owls, coyotes and badgers.
scientifically referred to as Mustela, putorius, furo Black-footed ferrets are long, slender animals. The average size is eighteen to twenty four inches long including a five to six inch tail, and one to two pounds in weight.
Black-footed ferrets spend the majority of their time in vacant prairie dog burrows. They venture above ground at night mainly to go from one burrow to the next to look for prey.
Prairie dogs make up over ninety percent of the black-footed ferret’s diet. The ferret enters a burrow and, upon finding a prairie dog, administers a throat bite thus suffocating the prairie dog. One black-footed ferret eats one prairie dog every three days. Ferrets cache or store their food thus minimizing aboveground exposure to other predators. The most common predators on ferrets are owls, coyotes and badgers.
The Prairie Dog,
scientifically referred as Cynomys,Prairie dogs live in underground burrows, extensive warrens of tunnels and chambers of soil. Burrows have nurseries, sleeping quarters, and even toilets. They also feature listening posts near exits, so animals can safely keep tabs on the movements of predators outside. Prairie dogs spend a lot of time building and rebuilding these dwellings. Other animals benefit from their labors. Burrows may be shared by snakes, burrowing owls, and even rare black-footed ferrets, which hunt prairie dogs in their own dwellings. Praire dogs can live three to four years and weigh two to four pounds. These "dogs" communicate in sharp cries and eat roots, plants, and seeds.
scientifically referred as Cynomys,Prairie dogs live in underground burrows, extensive warrens of tunnels and chambers of soil. Burrows have nurseries, sleeping quarters, and even toilets. They also feature listening posts near exits, so animals can safely keep tabs on the movements of predators outside. Prairie dogs spend a lot of time building and rebuilding these dwellings. Other animals benefit from their labors. Burrows may be shared by snakes, burrowing owls, and even rare black-footed ferrets, which hunt prairie dogs in their own dwellings. Praire dogs can live three to four years and weigh two to four pounds. These "dogs" communicate in sharp cries and eat roots, plants, and seeds.
The Swift Fox,
scientifically referred as Swift foxes eat rabbits, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, mice, birds, reptiles, amphibians, berries and seeds.Swift fox population numbers in the wild are unknown, but they are found in less than 40% of their historic range.They spend more time underground in their burrows than any other canid. Although they are social animals, they keep one mate throughout their lifetime. Swift foxes are able to run up to thirty mph.Swift foxes are between12 and 16 inches tall, and weigh five to seven pounds.THE SWIFT FOX IS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES AND IS CONSERVATION DEPENDENT.
scientifically referred as Swift foxes eat rabbits, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, mice, birds, reptiles, amphibians, berries and seeds.Swift fox population numbers in the wild are unknown, but they are found in less than 40% of their historic range.They spend more time underground in their burrows than any other canid. Although they are social animals, they keep one mate throughout their lifetime. Swift foxes are able to run up to thirty mph.Swift foxes are between12 and 16 inches tall, and weigh five to seven pounds.THE SWIFT FOX IS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES AND IS CONSERVATION DEPENDENT.