Home Sweet Home – Prairie Dogs settle in to new habitat at Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo

The prairie dogs have a new habitat to explore and start digging their complex tunnel systems in at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo).

“We are so excited to have the prairie dogs in their new home,” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager.  “The exhibit was designed to feature a naturalistic habitat and is over nine feet deep allowing them to exhibit their natural behaviours of digging and exploring”.

The new habitat also provides visitors the opportunity to get an up-close look at the prairie dogs with over 40 feet of glass around the new exhibit.

Building the new exhibit was made possible through the generous support of the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation who raises funds for capital projects and improvements within the Zoo. The Foundation secured the required funding to bring the new prairie dog exhibit to life thanks to the generous support of Rempel Brothers Construction, Dynamic Glass and Door, Richter Fencing, York Windows and Doors, One Mouse Graphic Design, LB Signs and the Forster Families. 

“The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation is very excited to have been able to contribute to the new Prairie Dog Exhibit and are very thankful for all of our partners and donors,” says Dawn Woroniuk, Executive Director, Saskatoon Zoo Foundation. “We couldn’t contribute to the Zoo without our supporters and because of them we can continue to connect citizens to nature so they can all enjoy this wonderful gem.”

The new prairie dog exhibit also features original artwork created by the Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Program. “We were so excited to work with the Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Program,” says Mitchell. “The piece really brings the space to life and makes this exhibit extra special and feel like you are out in a Southern Saskatchewan Prairie.”

Prairie dogs live in tight-knit family groups called coteries and communicate using squeaky calls. While their squeaky calls may sound simple and repetitive to the human ear, prairie dogs’ vocabulary is thought to be more advanced than any other animal language that has been decoded.

Residents are encouraged to come and experience the cuteness for themselves. The Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until the end of June and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting in July.  Additional information can be found at saskatoon.ca/zoo.