Prairie Dog Town

Black-tailed prairie dogs are highly social animals that live in colonies, sometimes called towns, made up of family groups spread across a network of burrows. Above ground they feed on grasses, groom one another, and keep constant watch, and sentries will rise up on their hind legs and bark sharp warning calls when a hawk, coyote, or other threat appears, sending the whole town diving for cover.

That alarm-calling is part of a surprisingly complex communication system, and it is one of the reasons prairie dogs are so entertaining to watch. Spend a little time at the pull-off and you will see the rhythm of the town, the pop-ups and lookouts, the sudden dives, and the all-clear as the little heads reappear one by one from the burrows.

Prairie dogs are considered a keystone species, meaning their presence shapes the whole ecosystem around them far out of proportion to their size. Their burrowing turns and aerates the soil, their grazing keeps the grass short and healthy, and their abandoned burrows shelter other animals. The colony itself becomes a feeding ground for hawks, eagles, coyotes, badgers, and snakes.

Because so many other species depend on them, a healthy prairie dog town is a sign of a healthy grassland. Once these towns stretched for miles across the great plains before much of the prairie was plowed and the colonies reduced. The refuge protects a piece of that older world, where the prairie dog can still do its quiet, essential work on the land.

Prairie Dog Town sits within the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, one of the wildest landscapes in the southern plains, where free-ranging bison, elk, and longhorn cattle roam a country of granite peaks, oak groves, and prairie. The prairie dog colony fits into this larger picture as one link in a rich chain of life protected across the refuge.

That makes the town a natural stop on a refuge drive. In a single loop visitors can watch bison graze, spot elk at the tree line, drive up the summit road of Mount Scott, and pause to enjoy the antics of the prairie dogs, a full cross-section of the plains ecosystem in one memorable outing.

The Wichita Mountains have long been part of the homeland of Southern Plains peoples, and Oklahoma today is home to the Comanche, the Kiowa, the Apache, the Wichita, and many other tribal nations whose histories are woven through this country. The prairie and its animals, the prairie dog among them, have been part of this landscape far longer than any refuge boundary.

For visitors based nearby, Prairie Dog Town rounds out a day in the Wichitas. It pairs easily with the bison herds, the cobblestone village of Medicine Park, the old store at Meers, and the summit of Mount Scott, a small, lively stop that reveals one of the great quiet engines of the prairie.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Prairie Dog Town, in the Wichita Mountains area of southwestern Oklahoma, is a delightful spot where visitors can watch a lively colony of black-tailed prairie dogs going about their busy lives in their burrow town. These charming, social little animals pop in and out of their many burrows, stand watch, chatter, and scurry about, entertaining visitors of all ages who come to observe the bustling colony up close from the viewing area. A beloved and family-friendly wildlife-watching spot, it charms visitors, especially children, and offers a fun glimpse of a classic prairie creature. A delightful and lively wildlife stop, it charms visitors. With its prairie dogs, Prairie Dog Town offers a fun destination in Oklahoma.

You can watch the lively colony of prairie dogs pop in and out of their burrows, stand watch, chatter, and scurry about, observing their busy social behavior from the viewing area. The charming, entertaining prairie dogs and the fun of watching their bustling town are the draws, making it a delightful stop, especially for families and children. The animals' antics are endlessly entertaining. With its prairie dogs, the town offers a rewarding experience in Oklahoma.

No, you should not feed the prairie dogs, as feeding wild animals is harmful to their health and natural behavior and can be unsafe, so observing them from the viewing area and never feeding or trying to touch them is important, both for their well-being and your safety. Enjoying the prairie dogs by simply watching their natural behavior is the best way to appreciate them. Watching without feeding ensures a respectful, safe visit to Prairie Dog Town in Oklahoma.

The prairie dogs are most active and visible during the day in mild weather, so the pleasant months of spring through fall, especially in the morning and late afternoon, offer the best viewing, while the animals are less active in extreme heat or cold. Because activity varies with the weather and season, aiming for a mild day improves your chances. For the liveliest prairie-dog watching, aim for a mild day in spring through fall at Prairie Dog Town in Oklahoma.

Prairie Dog Town is in the Wichita Mountains area of southwestern Oklahoma near Lawton, within reach of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Mount Scott, Medicine Park, and the Museum of the Great Plains. That makes Prairie Dog Town a fun stop to combine with the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and the other attractions of southwestern Oklahoma on a visit to the state.