Prairie Dogs in Henry Doorly Zoo

[elefante]

At the Henry Doorly Zoo this summer I noticed that several prairie dogs had established colonies in the neighboring parks near the sea lion exhibit and Pachyderm Hill. Are these escapees from the zoo? These animals could be invasive in the area.

 

[DavidBrown]

At the Henry Doorly Zoo this summer I noticed that several prairie dogs had established colonies in the neighboring parks near the sea lion exhibit and Pachyderm Hill. Are these escapees from the zoo? These animals could be invasive in the area.

Is it possible that you were seeing 13-lined ground squirrels? These prairie dog relatives are native to the Omaha area and live wild on and around the zoo grounds.

Thirteen-lined ground squirrel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[FMtRIS]

They are both in the area of the zoo and I suspect the prairie dogs are escapees. I have to laugh at where their main complex is; right near the picnic area! They are certainly opportunistic little things.

 

[KCZooFan]

Those wild prairie dogs have been there as long as I can remember; I would guess they were put there on purpose, the zoo knowing they would establish themselves and not leave. This is just a guess though. I have seen thirteen-lined ground squirrels at the zoo too though.

 

[elefante]

I have seen thirteen-lined ground squirrels at the zoo, but these were definitely prairie dogs.