Prairie dog

Prairie dogs literally mean "dog of the prairie.

They bark like dogs when they feel threatened,

which is why "dog" is part of their name.

Prairie dogs live in tight-knit families and dig burrows

in the ground that are divided into different rooms for different purposes,

such as sleeping, food storage, and restrooms.

Because they live underground, they have very small ears

to keep dirt and dust out of their ears,

and very long claws to make digging easier.

They shed twice a year,

so their fur often looks shaggy.