A confirmatory note on the effects of captivity and space on the behavior of the black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludicianus)

Abstract

The annual cycle of agonistic behavior exhibited by captive prairie dogs in the Philadelphia Zoo was also observed in a colony in the St. Louis Zoo. This behavior appeared to be an adaptation of a similar cycle exhibited by females in the wild. By scaling down the coterie territory to the size of the female's nesting territory in the wild, the need for agonistic behavior was reduced to a short period of time. Thus, territorial adjustment apparently lessened the amount of stressors imposed on the prairie dog individual. By the associated reduction in stress, the prairie dog can maintain the essential characteristics of its natural social structure.