C: Coteries

The Front Range of Colorado, where I live, is home to some of the largest active black-tailed prairie dog colonies in the state. It has been estimated that prairie dogs once occupied seven million acres of Colorado grassland. Their numbers are much smaller these days, due to land development, agriculture, and disease (including plague). But their presence is vitally important to prairie ecosystems. "At least nine species of wildlife depend on prairie dogs, another 20 opportunistically use prairie dog colonies, and an additional 117 wildlife species likely benefit from prairie dog colonies to meet their biological needs." (Prairie Dog Coalition)

Despite the name, their only association with dogs comes from the barking sounds they use to warn each other of predators. They make lots of other sounds, too. According to Con Slobodchikoff, Northern Arizona University prairie dog linguist (this is not a late April Fool's joke, I promise), prairie dogs have one of the most advanced systems of communication in the animal kingdom. 

Prairie dogs are social animals and live in family groups called coteries. Open space in town is harder to come by these days, but two of our natural areas--The Coterie and Prairie Dog Meadow--provide habitats for these little guys and gals. (Sorry, my pictures aren't great, but hopefully you get the idea.)