Why are prairie dogs called prairie dogs if they’re not dogs?

Prairie dogs are actually part of the rodent family. They were first described to science in 1806 as the “barking squirrel”. That may have led to the name prairie dog because they live in prairies (a type of grassland habitat) and they make a barking sound similar to a dog. Do you have a question about an animal you would like answered? We’d love to include it in the magazine. Send your question in an email to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

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The Week Junior (Digital) - 1 Issue, 291

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