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The Prairie Dog exhibit was near the entrance of the zoo. That area was really busy with
many people coming in and out of the it.
While the prairie dogs were active, and at times vocal, the background noise completely
overpowered them and nothing could captured by the camera.
They had a really interesting bark though, trust me.
In farming, Prairie Dogs are considered a pest. They are hunted and killed because of
the damage they do to crops. The fact they can transmit diseases and have been at the
center of a few outbreaks does not help either.
Just looking at them, I cannot possibly imagine this scenario. But there has been bans not
only in the United States, but in other parts in the world targeting just Prairie Dogs .
Private breeders have a difficult time with them. In zoos, however, they seem to thrive.
In Europe, specially during the ban, zoos were supplying the internal exotic pet market
for this species.
This is not the first time I see them in zoos. Of the ones I visited, only 1 did not have'em.
According to the Wikipedia they are a very popular exhibit. Being very active, vocal,
and cute, makes them interesting to watch.
Before the ban, the exotic pet market was supplied by collecting them in the wild. The
collection was done by using a vacuum on their burrows. I do hope the zoos have a better
method than that.
Of the 5 species, the Utah and Mexican Prairie Dogs are listed as endangered. Some of it
has do with disease, but mostly is just farmers poisoning them.
I know that each situation is different, and I can only imagine seeing crops being devastated
by these animals. But I hope that a solution can be found that does not entail extinction.
Of the three clips I had of this exhibit. I ended up using only one. I told myself that
I would come back for a fourth try before leaving the zoo, but by the time I got back,
I had no battery left.
Maybe I should have asked if I could take one home with me, maybe this is one of the
zoos that sells them. Definitely, no vacuuming though...