Patrick the prairie dog looks like a golden haired squirrel with short legs and short ears. He has sharp claws which help him to dig his nest which can be 3 - 16 feet down under the ground. He usually travels with his family and many other families. They travel together and live together and protect each other.

Patrick is a brave, healthy, young prairie dog. During the day, Patrick and the others find food on the ranch. They like to have a meal of grasses and weeds. The farmers don't like them because they eat up the food supply for their other animals.

Patrick's parents are always reminding him not to leave the group. Patrick likes to go out by himself. One day when Patrick went out, he was playing alone far from the nest. He didn’t see the brown and white hawk circling around overhead. Before he knew it, the hawk swooped down and tied to grab Patrick. Patrick heard a loud boom and the hawk fell to the ground. Patrick ran to his nest and never traveled alone again.