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The Prairie Dog Project

Research by John Hoogland | Since 1974

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juveniles

A closeup portrait. ©John Hoogland 2007

A mother carefully carries her baby in her mouth as she transfers her litter from one burrow into another. ©John Hoogland 2006

After a little over five weeks nursing underground, this litter makes their first emergence into the sunlight. ©John Hoogland 2006

We mark emergent juveniles according to their mother's marking scheme. The following year these individuals will receive unique markings, but for now the only distinguishing mark is a cap of ink on the head for female babies. ©John Hoogland 2006

In a trap. ©MRR 2016

It's a tough life for a prairie dog, and juveniles are especially vulnerable to predation. Here a long-tailed weasel approaches a nursery burrow. ©John Hoogland 2006

Juvenile prairie dogs are very small. ©John Hoogland 2007

An overhead photo while handling an especially cooperative juvenile. ©John Hoogland 2007

When they first emerge, baby prairie dogs will tentatively remain near their burrow. ©John Hoogland 2007

Huddled together. ©John Hoogland 2007

Babies are tiny but have full bellies after foraging. ©John Hoogland 2007

Two mothers stand on alert, surrounded by their offspring. ©John Hoogland 2011

Mothers may transfer their offspring either by leading them or by carrying them. ©John Hoogland 2006

Relaxed and autogrooming. ©John Hoogland 2007

Sibling curiosity. ©MRR 2017

Testing what's edible. ©MRR 2017

Mother and son both autogrooming (self-grooming). ©MRR 2017

A funny face while playing. ©MRR 2017

Daughter seeks permission to suckle. ©MRR 2017

More common in certain species and less common in others, this Gunnison's prairie dog gives us a rare glimpse of aboveground nursing. ©MRR 2017

Rearing up to pounce. ©MRR 2017

Tussling in play provides as much learning as it does fun for juveniles. ©MRR 2017

A playful baby pounces on his mother. ©MRR 2017

Who knows what's going on underground; this baby woke up one morning with one eye closed, perhaps from a scratch. Later in the day the eye was open and healthy. ©MRR 2017

The Collar Belly marking on this juvenile makes him especially cute - in this researcher's opinion. ©MRR 2017

Siblings tumble into a burrow as they play. ©MRR 2017

Cops and robbers? ©MRR 2017

A relaxed sitting juvenile eating grass. ©MRR 2017

A post-plague juvenile at our Redondo Meadows colony. ©MRR 2017

A shy litter on their first day of emergence. ©MRR 2017

A baby runs behind his mother during a burrow transfer. This is called "leading." ©MRR 2017

Sibling touch time. ©MRR 2017

A baby drops a glob of dirt after a test bite. ©MRR 2017

Released back into his nursery burrow. ©MRR 2017

Sisters playing. ©MRR 2017

Playing looks nothing like the fights adults will engage it, but play does prepare prairie dogs for hostile interactions in adulthood. ©MRR 2017

A portrait on all fours. ©MRR 2017

Reaching for the high stuff. ©MRR 2017

Play copulating is a common form of play among juveniles. ©MRR 2017

Wrestling. ©MRR 2017

Sometimes three or more babies get in on the play. ©MRR 2017

Watching juveniles tumble into all sorts of positions can be very amusing. ©MRR 2017

A bear hug. ©MRR 2017

A pounce. ©MRR 2017

And a tumble. ©MRR 2017

Juveniles spend a lot of time exploring their surroundings, foraging, and playing, but also spend a considerable amount of their day just watching. ©MRR 2017

Siblings covered in dust as they play-fight over a bit of forage. ©MRR 2017

Not all juvenile prairie dogs will survive the summer or their first winter. Their carefree early months are brief. ©MRR 2017

Two weeks after emerging for the first time, juveniles are already markedly grown. ©MRR 2017

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