“He’s cute, but he’s badass,” is how staff at the Texas Wildlife Park in Mountain Home, 17 miles west of Kerrville, describe a young prairie dog that’s going viral on social media because of his diminutive stature, big attitude and unapologetic refusal to be nice.
His name is Chunk, and he became a social media celebrity at the age of 6, with more than 1 million views combined on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. Video shows the marmot gnashing its teeth at zoo staff and swiping at their shoes and ankles. The little critter rules his enclosure with what TikTok’s suggestive search feature calls a “little reign of terror” — and viewers just can’t get enough.
“He is a conduit for evil,” social media manager Molly O’Dell told MySA. Visitors who book a Texas Safari tour can get up close and personal with animals at a private zoo. Among them are lemurs, two-toed sloths, coatis, African crested porcupines, mountain lions and other big cats, and at least one tiger. If you book a tour, you can visit Chunk’s fellow prairie dogs, Cheech and Chonga, two adorable females who love to cuddle.
“But never Chunk,” O’Dell said in a viral TikTok video explaining why the little guy was locked in a kennel or “cell” during the encounter.
“Junk doesn’t interact because he’s mean and evil and he just bites everyone,” O’Dell explained in another video. In fact, the kennels are a regular safety measure for the safety of guests and Chunk’s well-being.
O’Dell was quick to clarify that Block isn’t actually evil. He was simply a wild animal. Antisocial behavior began sometime around his sexual maturity. In addition, he also left his good mood to the owners of the interactive zoo, Rick and Leslie Tozer. If you can believe it, blocks used to be their personal pets.
“He prefers his long-term owner and that’s that,” O’Dell told MySA. “Animals can’t actually be evil.”
She said Chunk just had his boundaries and he enforced them. Those boundaries fueled Chunk’s internet fame.
Chunk’s video sparked thousands of comments from fans who were equally horrified and fascinated, retweeting close-up photos and “free my boy” memes in the comments section.
TikTok user Sweetie Lou said in a video: “I love that there is a little prairie dog in the world that has street cred and can make a bunch of people tremble in their leggings.”
“I would risk my life [an] Encountered a block 😫,” said another TikTok user named Jesús MB R.
Another user wrote: “My toxic trait is thinking I can change Chunk.” Odell said these comments were the funniest.
The more the bulk pushes people away, the more they scatter toward him. His success has earned Texas Wildlife Park more than 372,000 fans since opening in 2023. This private, appointment-only zoo offers supervised up-close encounters with exotic animals, with prices ranging from $100 for a basic tour to $575 for a two-hour large safari package.
Although Chunk is not allowed to hug, you can give him a virtual hug from the safety of your home by following the zoo online for more Chunk content. You can also call Texas Wildlife Park to learn more about how to book an interactive tour with animals that truly want your affection.
Remember, it will never be a Chunk.
“He doesn’t crave hugs. He craves violence,” O’Dell said in a recent video.
This article was originally published on ‘Tiny reign of terror’ called ‘Chunk’ has zookeepers nervous near San Antonio.
