Black-Tailed Prairie Dog

Cynomys ludovicianus

The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) is a social ground squirrel of the North American Great Plains, named for the dark tip of its tail and its sharp bark-like alarm calls. It lives in colonies, or towns, made of burrow systems with nursery chambers, listening posts, and clipped vegetation around entrances. Prairie dogs graze grasses and forbs, and their digging creates habitat structure used by many other grassland animals, including burrowing owls, snakes, and insects.

People encounter black-tailed prairie dogs in wildlife management, restoration projects, zoos, and the exotic pet trade where legal. They are highly social animals that need companions, deep digging opportunities, chew-safe materials, and diets based on grasses and hay rather than rich seed mixes. Captive animals can bite hard and may carry zoonotic diseases, so sourcing and veterinary care matter. Field management often balances ranching concerns, plague surveillance, reintroduction of black-footed ferrets, and protection of remaining native grassland colonies.