Prairie Dogs and Burrowing Owls

That night, 9th June, we stayed near Norton, at the Prairie Dog State Park, an attractive and very well used park especially on weekends when the locals gather for family get-togethers.  The fishing is apparently wonderful on the huge reservoir located there - do they eat the “crappie” and “saugeye” or throw them back?  I think the names would put me off even trying them but then some people like squid. The children have a great time cycling around the paths and walking along the 1.4 mile nature trail too.

We’d never seen burrowing owls before and they were quite small, about 8 ½ - 11 inches in height and often use abandoned holes of the prairie dogs.  They like to sit above their territory to watch for predators or their next meal.  

The prairie dog colony was extremely large and active. They’re cute little critters, only 1-3 lbs in weight and sit up very straight on top of their mounds with their little front paws touching each other just like we would if we clasped our hands together. We watched them rushing from one dirt mound to the other and hi-tailing it back down into their holes if they felt threatened. The French called them “little dogs” because of theirbark to let the others know of any danger.  I could have been in danger too, walking through the mixed grasses, because rattlesnakes and black widow spiders inhabit the prairie lands, but all I saw was the ugliest buzzard eating some remnant of an animal by the side of the road who was too busy to fly off when I got close.