Common Name: Prairie Dog
Scientific Genus: Cynomys (5 species)
Family: Sciuridae (squirrel family)
Species:
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (C. ludovicianus)
White-tailed Prairie Dog (C. leucurus)
Gunnison’s Prairie Dog (C. gunnisoni)
Utah Prairie Dog (C. parvidens)
Mexican Prairie Dog (C. mexicanus)
Origin/Range: Native to North America (Great Plains, parts of Mexico, U.S. Southwest)
Habitat: Grasslands, prairies, open plains
Size: 30–40 cm (12–16 in) long
Weight: 0.7–1.5 kg (1.5–3 lbs) depending on species and season
Body: Stocky, with short legs and strong claws for digging
Tail: Short, ranges from black-tipped to white-tipped (species identifier)
Fur: Tan to brown with lighter underparts, blending with dry grasslands
Lifespan: 3–5 years in the wild; up to 8–10 years in captivity
Social Structure: Extremely social; live in large colonies called towns, subdivided into coteries (small family groups)
Coterie Structure: Usually 1 male, several females, and their offspring
Communication: Famous for complex vocalizations—chirps and barks that can signal predators (hawks, coyotes, humans) with details about size, shape, and speed
Activity: Diurnal (active in the day); retreat underground at night
Burrows: Complex systems with multiple chambers (nursery, storage, sleeping, listening posts) and entrances
Type: Herbivores (grazing animals)
Main Foods: Grasses, roots, seeds, leaves, flowers, and occasionally insects
Ecological Role: Considered a keystone species—their grazing maintains healthy prairies, and their burrows provide habitats for other animals like burrowing owls, ferrets, and snakes
Breeding Season: Late winter to early spring
Gestation Period: ~30 days
Litter Size: 3–8 pups (average 4–5)
Parental Care: Young are born blind and hairless; emerge from burrows at 6 weeks
Maturity: Sexual maturity at 1 year
Predators: Hawks, eagles, coyotes, badgers, snakes, black-footed ferrets
Defenses: Alarm calls, retreat to burrows, group vigilance
Conservation Status:
Black-tailed Prairie Dog: Least Concern (but populations declined >90% due to habitat loss & eradication programs)
Utah & Mexican Prairie Dogs: Threatened/Endangered
Major Threats: Habitat destruction, poisoning/eradication by ranchers, plague outbreaks, urban expansion
