Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
Cynomys ludovicianus
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Population, Conservation Status, Threats:
Listed as least concern by the IUCN, though populations appear to be decreasing. Loss of habitat is the biggest threat, due to human development, be it agricultural, oil and natural gas related, or housing development. They are considered an agricultural pest by both crop farmers and cattle ranchers and have historically been overhunted as pests.
Physical Description:
Prairie dogs are fossorial animals, with greatly reduced ears and forelimbs adapted to digging with long claws. Their short fur is tan, gradating to light tan to white on the underbelly, with a distinctive black tip on the tail that gives them their name.
Overall black-tailed prairie dog range from Montana Field Guide. Black-tailed prairie dogs are present across the great plains region of the United States, their range just barely extending into Mexico and Canada.
Habitat:
Prairie dogs prefer sparse grassland habitat. As burrowing animals, firm but diggable soil is essential to create and maintain the extensive tunnel systems they live in.
Behavior:
Prairie dogs are highly social, living in large towns which are subdivided into familial coteries. Prairie dogs are extremely vocal and communicative, and during the morning and evening hours, during which they are most active, some individuals will occupy the role of lookouts while others forage, take care of young, and shore up or build burrows - when danger is spotted, these lookouts will communicate with a series of alarm yips. Eleven distinct communicative calls have been recorded, each used in different contexts and for different purposes.
Diet:
Prairie dogs survive primarily on forbs and grasses, which also provide for their water needs. They may occasionally eat insects. They will also crop, but not necessarily eat, much of the vegetation within the colony, in order to maintain clear views of potential threats on the landscape.
Reproduction:
Mating occurs from January to March , and gestation takes roughly one month, resulting in an average of 2-8 pups, which are born blind and helpless. Both males and females will provide parental care to the young. Individuals become sexually mature at 2 years of age - at this point, ,ales usually migrate to other colonies once mature to ensure genetic diversity and dispersal.
Associated Species:
Black-footed ferrets are a species that was believed to have been driven to extinction, partly due to loss of their primary prey, prairie dogs. American badgers and coyotes will also frequently predate upon prairie dogs.
Illustration by Willow Sedam
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