Black-Tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
Active and extremely social, black-tailed prairie dogs live in complex communities. They are an important part of the prairie ecosystem. They help keep the soil healthy by loosening it with their digging. They provide a source of food for other animals, including eagles, ferrets, and coyotes.
What They Eat
Prairie dogs eat mainly grasses and other plants, but will also consume seeds and insects.
Where They Live
Prairie dogs live in and around “towns” of tunnels they carve 3–10 feet beneath the surface of prairies and semi-deserts of the western United States, Canada, and northern Mexico.
What They Do
Prairie dogs are adapted to live in dry, resource-scarce conditions. Their tunnels help protect them from predators and from the hot sun. Their sandy color camouflages them against the light-colored ground. They are able to survive for long periods on water they obtain from the food they eat.
How They’re Doing
Prairie dog populations have declined due to disease, habitat loss and fragmentation, poisoning, and shooting.
Where in the World
North America
Habitat
Prairie/Steppe
Conservation Status
Animal Facts
Weight: 1½ –3 pounds
Body Length: 14–16 inches
Taxonomic Category
Other mammals
Where at the Zoo
- The barking sound prairie dogs make when communicating with each other earned them their name. Scientists have identified at least 11 calls, each with a distinct meaning.
- Young prairie dogs are called kits.
- In the past, prairie dogs were killed in large numbers because ranchers thought they were destroying rangeland and competing for food with cattle, or were worried their cattle might break a leg by stepping in a prairie dog hole.
- Black-tailed prairie dogs are unusual among the five species of prairie dogs in that they don’t hibernate.
