Alex Lyon, age 8, of South Burlington, Vt., for his question:

WHY DO WE CALL HIM A PRAIRIE DOG?

A prairie dog is a member of the squirrel family. It received

its name because it has a shrill bark much like that of a dog. It lives in the western part of North America from Canada to Mexico.

The prairie dog is a sturdy animal about a foot long. It has coarse fur that is brownish gray in color. It has small beady eyes, short legs, pouched cheeks and a short, flat tail. It lives in a community with other prairie dogs.

The prairie dog is a serious pest to farmers and cattle raisers in the West because it eats grasses and roots, and because it digs open burrows. A running horse or cow that steps into one of these holes may break a leg.

The prairie dog is especially fond of alfalfa and grain.