We encountered Black-tailed Prairie Dogs during a hike at our local Cheyenne Mountain State Park this past Friday. To our great delight, this year’s little ones were out and about, exploring and frolicking. May I present: Precious Prairie Pups (my husband’s coinage).
To enlarge a photo, click on it.
tanja britton 
How cute! Did they vocalize? 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. The adults vocalized, but the young ones did not. They were looking at us but didn’t seem bothered by us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Super cute!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. We thought so, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So darned cute! And fun to watch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Laurie. They are adorable.
LikeLike
Awww so cute! I love the babies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Diana. It’s always an extra treat to see the babies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cute!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sweet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They definitely are. Thank you, Eliza.
LikeLike
You should have warned us: Cuteness alert! What a darling bunch-a-babies. Mama’s pretty darned sweet too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cuteness alert, indeed! Thank you, Tina.
LikeLike
Oh my goodness!! How adorable!! Prairie Dogs have always been one of my favorite animals, and I am thankful for the beautiful way you represented them through your photos. How cute!! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Gavin. We love them, too. Luckily, there are still a number of prairie dog towns in the area.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The prairie dogs are adorable! 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s exactly what they are. Thank you, Pepper!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So cute!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, they are. Thank you, Luisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so very welcome my dear Tanja!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Die sind so knuffig zu beobachten, wie schön, dass Du Gelegenheit dazu hattest und sie sich auch zutraulich mit der Kamera einfangen ließen. Erinnert mich an Lubbock, dort gab es eine Prairiedog City ebenso in den Badlands. Sorry, aber Deine Bilder und Berichte erinnern mich immer so an meine Reisen. Vielleicht sollte ich langsam mal aufhören, das immer zu erwähnen.
LG Maren
LikeLiked by 1 person
In addition to Prairie Dog Town in Lubbock’s Mackenzie Park, there’s a colony of prairie dogs in Caprock Canyons State Park (which also is home to a herd of bison).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the info. As a tourist, you unfortunately don’t know everything. We saw bison in Yellowstone and in the Badlands. Best regards.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Es macht mich immer froh, diese niedlichen Tiere zu sehen, besonders wenn sie Junge haben. Du brauchst Dich nicht zu entschuldigen, Deine Texaserfahrungen zu erwähnen. Es ist gut, wenn wir uns an schöne Zeiten erinnern.
Liebe Grüße zurück,
Tanja
LikeLiked by 1 person
Apparently prairie dogs came to be called that in English because of the sounds they make, even though the animals are clearly in the same family as squirrels. I see that German follows English with Präriehund.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Apparently so. I guess once it became clear that they weren’t dogs but squirrels, they didn’t think the name prairie squirrel would catch on. Nor Prärieeichhörnchen in German.
LikeLike
Unique critters!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, they are. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even though prairie dogs are one of my favorite animals, I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing the young ones. The “Awwww” factor is high with these; the photos are delightful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Linda. I’m also in love with prairie dogs and seeing their young ones each year only adds to my appreciation. There was definitely a lot of oohing and aahing on our part.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have never seen the young ones, especially this small, until now. They are so lovable! 🥹
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Julie. Lovable, indeed. We have seen even smaller pups in years past and I’m glad we came across these families before the little ones weren’t so little any longer. They grow up fast.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very fun Tanja. Could you hear their calls? Driving through Rocky Mountain Arsenal WP we could hear them most of the drive. And even a few sightings at Florissant on Saturday. They seem to enjoy to the fullest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Brad. The parents were vocalizing, but the little ones were quiet, they were merely watching us.
I’m glad you were able to see them in various places. Luckily, there are a number of prairie dog towns still around.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Forgot to say Thanks for the Florissant referral; We all enjoyed the trip there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome. It’s not as if I wrote a 10-page guide to birding in Colorado, as Brian would have done. 😊
I’m glad you enjoyed Florissant and I hope you are having a great time in general.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are, thank you. Trying Two Ponds tomorrow and there might be a future story about it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look forward to reading about your experiences!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh quite some cuties…
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are definitely cute.
Thank you, Christa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How lovely. 👍🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you enjoyed them, thank you very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Plaisir chère amie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Merci!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi. Was one or both of their parents nearby?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, there was. An adult is visible in three of the photos, and one of the pups is suckling in the last photo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Prairie dogs are cute little critters. Two summers ago while camping at the Arrow Lake, they visited us and picked up the crumbs under the breakfast table. After a while they got so tame they ate out of my outstretched hand.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your comment, Peter. I’m always torn when wild critters become a little too accustomed to people. It’s hard to resist the temptation to feed them but we probably should try. It’s better for them in the end if they don’t get dependent on human hand-outs.
LikeLike
Das ist ja eine ganze Mannschaft 🤩
LikeLiked by 1 person
Es gab sogar noch mehr in der Nähe! Ob sie wohl Präriefußball spielen? 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Prairie Pups are adorable. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Maria. The pups never fail to put a smile on my face.
LikeLike
Wonderful creatures!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I wholeheartedly agree!
LikeLiked by 1 person