RV-4
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Other CFI
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60; Flight Crew Total 4600; Flight Crew Type 40
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Person / Animal / Bird
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
I was landing at ZZZ. This was my third landing of the morning. The first two landings were perfect and uneventful. On the third landing the approach and touchdown appeared normal then suddenly; when on the runway;  the airplane veered to the right and then entered a ground loop. The runway was closed to all traffic at that time.  Upon inspection of the runway a dead Prairie Dog was found in the vicinity of where I landed. It appears as though my right main tire struck the Prairie Dog which caused me to veer to the right.  There were no injuries. The right main landing gear collapsed and the propeller did contact the ground. Prairie Dogs have been observed on a regular basis at this airport.
Pilot reported striking a prairie dog on landing; causing a ground loop and damage to the aircraft which blocked the runway.