Upright, alert and barking at anything that moves - our printable prairie dog mask is a North American grasslands delight! Despite the name, prairie dogs are actually ground squirrels, and their complex underground colonies and remarkably sophisticated communication system make them one of the most scientifically fascinating small mammals on the plains. Perfect for North American animals school plays, habitats projects, World Book Day, and birthday parties.

The prairie dog's communication system is one of the most complex in the animal kingdom - they have specific calls for different predators describing size, shape and speed, which makes them a brilliant subject for animal language and communication topics. Every mask comes with a full colour version AND a black and white line art version for colouring in.

5 Interesting Facts About Prairie Dogs!

Prairie dogs have one of the most complex communication systems of any animal - their alarm calls contain specific information about the size, shape, colour and speed of a predator, functioning almost like a primitive language.
They're not dogs at all - they're rodents closely related to squirrels, ground squirrels and marmots. They get the 'dog' name from their sharp, dog-like bark used to warn the colony of danger.
Prairie dog towns can be enormous - one historic colony in Texas was estimated to contain 400 million individuals and covered an area larger than England.
They are a keystone species on the American prairie - over 150 other species depend on them either directly as food or indirectly by using their burrows, including the critically endangered black-footed ferret.
Prairie dogs greet each other with a 'kiss' - colony members touch teeth when meeting to confirm they belong to the same family group, a form of identity verification that looks endearingly like kissing.

Printable Prairie Dog Mask

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