During the day, these North American rodents are usually out and about in the open; they greet our visitors right at the parking lot.

But no sooner are they born than they’ll soon embark on a long journey—some of the animals will find a new home at a Dutch zoo. The relocation is planned for the coming weeks.

About prairie dogs:
Prairie dogs belong to the ground squirrel family and are related to the European ground squirrel and the marmot. They have a head-body length of 30 to 35 cm and weigh between 800 and 1,400 g.

They spend the night in their comfortable underground burrows, which are connected by tunnels up to 300 meters long. The nesting chambers themselves are located up to 5 meters below the earth’s surface.

These cute little rodents are particularly popular with visitors, as their behavior often displays “human-like” traits. They kiss each other in greeting and place great importance on a cozy home; every now and then, they even have disputes with their neighbors.