Home on the range
A symbol of the American West, black-tailed prairie dogs are charismatic members of the rodent family.
Black-tailed prairie dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
Status
Least Concern
Activity Period
Crepuscular
Classification
Mammal
Habitat
Black-tailed prairie dogs live in open and dry areas, preferring grassy or brushy flat plains with large wide open areas.
Range
They're found in the Great Plains region of the United States, from central Canada to northern Mexico.
Life Expectancy
Females tend to live longer than males - some up to 8 years. Under human care, both males and females have longer life expectancies.
Diet
Vegetation makes up to 98% of black-tailed prairie dogs' diet, although they may occasionally eat insects. They get all the moisture they need from their diet so they don't need to drink water.
Social Structure
A highly social species, these prairie dogs live groups called colonies or towns. The largest recorded colony was found in Texas and had an estimated 400 million animals!
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