Did you know? Prairie dogs are named for their habitat and warning calls, which sound similar to a dog's bark. [VID: Compilation footage of prairie dogs] | Nature | PBS

Prairie dogs live in huge, underground networks called "towns." [VID: Did you know? Prairie dogs live in "towns." Towns are huge, underground burrows, found in the prairies and plateaus of North America. Undisturbed towns have tens of thousands of prairie dog residents and go for miles in every direction. In 1900, a prairie dog town the size of Maryland was discovered in Texas. Its tunnels were home to an estimated 400 million prairie dogs.] | Nature | PBS

In Texas, the black-tailed prairie dog serves as a vital "keystone species," creating sprawling underground "towns" that provide shelter for burrowing owls and black-footed ferrets. Though their range has shrunk significantly from the massive colonies of the 19th century, they remain a fixture of the Texas Panhandle and West Texas plains. Today, you can witness their famous social "barks" and tail-wagging alerts at protected sites like Prairie Dog Town in Lubbock, where these highly communicativ

Have you ever seen one of Philmont's prairie dog towns? Their burrows allow for water to penetrate and aerate the soil. Additionally, their nitrogen-rich scat acts as a natural fertilizer which helps improve soil quality throughout the ranch. Not only do humans provide a great amount of conservation to the backcountry, but prairie dogs also heavily contribute to the overall health of the ecosystem that we call HOmE. #philmont #IWGBTP #philstaff #newmexicotrue #scoutmein #HOmE #hikeon #open4adven