* Threatened or Endangered

Prairie Dog *

 : Cynomys ludovicianus

 : Mammal

 : Throughout most of the western United States from Canada to Mexico -- Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming -- including higher elevations of the Mojave, Great Basin and Chihuahuan deserts.

 : Grasses, roots, weeds, blossoms and sometimes insects.

 : Weight 1 ½ to 3 pounds

 : Once very common they have disappeared in many areas. Prairie Dogs only inhabit about 2% of the range that they once did.

 

• Once very common, they have disappeared in many areas. Prairie Dogs only inhabit about 2% of the range that they once did.

• Also called “barking squirrels,” their genus name cynomys means “mouse dog.”

• One of the largest prairie dog towns was in Texas where a town was reportedly 100 miles wide and 250 miles long, with an estimated 400 million animals.

• Lewis and Clark were fascinated with these small rodents and spent many hours attempting to dig one out of its burrow.

• Prairie dogs have a variety of vocalizations which warn other members of the town about impending danger.

 
 
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