Discover the World of Prairie Dogs

Discover Prairie Dogs

What kind of Prairie Dogs Exist in the World?

Prairie dogs are herbivorous burrowing ground squirrels native to the grasslands of North America. Prairie dogs are mammals in the Sciruidae family (squirrels, chipmunks, marmots and prairie dogs). They are in the Rodentia order. There are five recognized species if of prairie dogs: black-tailed, white-tailed, Gunnison's, Utah, and Mexican prairie dogs. Only two species, the Utah and Mexican are protected.

What is the Prairie Dog Language?

Con Slobodchicoff said this about the language of prairie dogs: "They're able to describe the color of clothes the humans are wearing, they're able to describe the size and shape of humans, even, amazingly, whether a human once appeared with a gun," Slobodchikoff said. The animals can even describe abstract shapes such as circles and triangles. Also remarkable was the amount of information crammed into a single chirp lasting a 10th of a second. "In one 10th of a second, they say 'Tall thin human wearing blue shirt walking slowly across the colony.'"

How can we help protect prairie dogs?

Prairie dogs play a critical role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, but they need your support. Consider donating to Prairie Dog Pals to aid our efforts in rescuing, protecting, and conserving these amazing animals.

The Prairie Bloomed Beneath The Sun, And Life Beneath The Soil Awoke In Harmony.

Explore our comprehensive Q&A section for detailed insights.

Gunnison’s Prairie Dogs are the species we have in Central New Mexico.  They are also known as four corners prairie dogs dogs as they also inhabit the 4 corners region of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona.

  • Native to grasslands in North America, ranging from Canada to northern Mexico
  • Excavate elaborate underground burrow systems with multiple entrances
  • Excellent diggers with sharp claws and keen vision and hearig
  • Communicate through a complex system of warning barks that can describe specific predators in detail
  • Size: 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in) long, including a short tail
  • Weight: 0.5 to 1.5 kilograms (1 to 3 lb)
  • Appearance: Stout-bodied rodents with short, coarse fur in yellowish buff to reddish colors
  • Lifespan: 3 to 5 years in the wild

Prairie dogs are highly social animals living in complex colony systems called “dog towns”

They form tight-knit family groups called coteries, typically containing: 

  • An adult male
  • One or more adult females
  • Their young offspring
  • Prairie Dogs are a keystone species important to 200 other species of wildlife. They provide homes or shelter, enrich plant communities in their habitat, help to maintain the health of arid grasslands, and are a food source. Nine species are considered to be dependant (the federally endangered black-footed ferret (Mustelanigripes), burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), mountain plover (Charadrius montanus), ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), swift fox (Vulpesvelox), horned lark (Eremophila alpestris), deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), and northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomus leucogaster). From Bison to horned lizards, prairie dogs benefit biodiversity.
  • Burrowing animals, like prairie dogs, open breathing tubes in the earth.  The underground aquifers act like the diaphragm in human bodies, the moon as it passes raises and lowers the underground water table and the Earth breathes through the many fissures and tubes opened by the burrowing creatures.  The exhalation of moisture-laden air, filled with negative ions, helps create rain.

There is an old Navajo warning that, if you kill off the prairie dogs there will be no one to cry for rain.  Bill Mollison, the father of permaculture, notes in response that:

Amused scientists, knowing that there was no conceivable relationship between prairie dogs and rain, recommended the extermination of all burrowing animals in some desert areas planted to rangelands in the 1950s… in order to protect the roots of the sparse desert grasses.  Today the area (not far from Chilchinbito, Arizona) has become a virtual wasteland.  Fierce run-off, soil compaction, and lack of fresh seedbed have carried the grasses away.

  • Burrows act as aquifers that prevent water from eroding land while helping to keep it cool.
  • Prairie dog burrowing can be beneficial to the soil because mixing soil types and incorporating organic matter enhances soil formation. It also helps to increase soil aeration and decrease compaction.
  • In short-grass prairies, the number of plant species, particularly forbs, increases because of the digging and scratching activities of prairie dogs that disturb the soil. These patches of bare soil provide excellent sites for annual forbs to become established.  Long-term use of an area by prairie dogs appears to promote buffalograss and grama grasses (Foster & Hygnstrom).
  • In addition to digging up the soil, prairie dogs clip the vegetation around their burrows, enhancing nitrogen uptake by these plants. 
  • Prairie dogs might also redress some of the problems with overgrazing. For instance, prairie dogs can control noxious weeds and native invaders that proliferate on overgrazed rangeland. An example is prairie dog control of mesquite (Miller et al. 1996; Miller and Ceballos 1994). They remove pods and seeds and nip and strip bark from young seedlings, which contributes to seedling mortality. 

1. They are the primary prey on rangelands and their colonies also provide a greater density of other prey species.

2. They provide homes or shelters for dozens of species.

3. Their positive effect on soil and vegetation conditions.

Prairie dogs are herbivorous (i.e., they eat plants such as grasses and forbs [grass-like flowering plants]). Prairie dogs also occasionally insects that they find above ground. They do not drink because they get all of the water they need from the plants.

While we do not advocate feeding wild animals, the lack of sufficient native vegetation at urban sites or drought conditions may prevent the resident prairie dogs from getting sufficient nourishment from their environment.  In these cases supplemental feeding should be considered.

Discover Prairie Dogs

Why do they need population control and where do you take them?

"City" prairie dogs are trapped in small areas and have no predators other than man and automobiles to maintain their population. Eventually they reach maximum population and must be thinned out on parkland in Albuquerque. They are relocated by our volunteers to Open Space Park Land after the site has been prepared. The ideal time is in June, July or August although they can be relocated in April before the babies are born.

Do Prairie Dogs Drink Water?

Not usually, but they will. In the wild, they get enough moisture from the native grasses and weeds that they normally eat. In Albuquerque during a drought, they will eat cactus to receive their needed moisture and to prevent starvation. Supplemental water is needed in barren areas and during drought conditions.

Don't they Carry the Plague?

Plague is not carried by prairie dogs but by fleas that can infect all mammals. If a prairie dog is infected by plague carrying fleas, it, and the whole colony, will die. According to the Environmental Health Department, they are not carriers of the Hanta Virus. If prairie dogs are "frisky", they are healthy.

As hot air balloons drifted across the endless sky, prairie dogs watched from below, grounded yet free in the heart of the open plains.

PRAIRIE DOG FACTS

Debunking Myths

Prairie dogs may be facing extinction. They have been poisoned, shot, and bulldozed to less than 1% of their historic population size. Plague is also a major killer, effecting healthy prairie dog colonies in the western plains.

Prairie dogs actually breed at a very low rate compared to other small mammals. They reproduce only once per year, and the average litter size Is 3-4 pups. Confronted with barriers to expansion or years of poor vegetative growth, prairie dogs practice population control.

In fact, prairie dogs do not pose a major risk for spreading plague to humans because when they are exposed to the disease they normally die too quickly to pass it on to Us. The Colorado Department of Health has documented only 42 plague cases since 1957. Of those, just six are linked to prairie dogs. Other mammals, such as cats and dogs who have some immunity, can carry the plague by hosting flees with the plague bacterium. Humans should take steps to avoid contracting the plague, but it is easily treatable with standard antibiotics.

It is understandable why people believe that prairie dogs compete with cattle for forage. Looking onto a prairie dog colony, one often sees less grass and bare ground. However, the grasses on colonies are higher in nutritional quality than uncolonized areas despite less overall quantity.

We have witnessed an outpouring of support for prairie dogs over the last few years in the West. Concerned citizens are rising up to protect individual colonies slated for poisoning, developing or shooting contests and pushing their local governments to adopt policies meant to protect prairie dogs and their habitat. These actions are a part of a growing desire of American citizens to protect state wildlife, critical wildlife habitat and open spice in general. Furthermore, 69% of Colorado voters recently polled favored federal and state agencies establishing strict protections for prairie dogs on public land.

Scientific research shows over and over again that cattle that graze on pastures with prairie dog colonies do not weigh significantly less than cattle that graze on uncolonized areas.

More Facts

The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is listed as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and is one of the rarest mammals on the face of the earth. Black-footed ferrets need prairie dogs for 90% of their diet and 100% of their shelter requirements. The decline of the ferret has been traced to prairie dog eradication efforts and introduced diseases combined with a radically decimated prey base and secondary poisoning.

The mountain plover (Charadrius montanus) is a bird highly dependent on prairie dogs for survival in many areas, a fact acknowledged by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) biologists. Mountain plovers have been recognized as rare and in need of federal protection since 1990.

The ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) is another important prairie dog predator that is in serious decline. It was listed as “threatened” by Canada in 1980. In the U.S., the ferruginous hawk is a “species of special concern” in several states and was petitioned for listing under the ESA in 1991, The USFWS dismissed the petition, despite the fact that several of the agency’s regions believed that the petition warranted review.

The swift fox (Vulpes velox) is closely associated with the prairie dog ecosystem, as prairie dogs provide it with shelter and a stable prey base. Due to impacts from trapping, hunting, automobiles, the conversion of habitat to agricultural lands, and prey reduction from rodent control programs, the swift fox is now considered very rare in its northern range and limited to localized populations in its southern range. The species is currently protected in several states, but receives no federal protection.

The burrowing owl (tathene cunicularia) relies heavily upon prairie dog burrows to nest. Prairie dog colonies provide the burrowing owl with both shelter and increased prey abundance. Consequently, the decline in prairie dog habitat causes declines in burrowing owl numbers.

There is growing global concern over the loss of biodiversity caused by human activities. Scientists have concluded that grasslands are the most imperiled major ecological regions worldwide. The short grass prairie may be moving closer to the brink of ecological collapse, given the dramatic alteration of the plains by human agriculture and development.

The dramatic alteration of prairies by humans is unparalleled among North American ecosystems. No expanses of healthy, short grass prairie remain in the Southern Plains. In the United States, we are left with only small and isolated remnants.

The overall degradation of natural processes in the Great Plains and the biological imperilment of the prairie dog are closely linked. A host of scientific research links the reduction of prairie dogs, the destruction of habitat, and the loss of biodiversity. This biological imperilment has dramatically manifested itself: there are 55 grassland species listed as endangered or threatened and 728 grassland candidates waiting to be listed.

Prairie dogs now occupy less than 1% of their historic range. Even those interested in controlling prairie dogs on rangeland acknowledge a 98% decline. Less than 800,000 acres of prairie dogs remain, down from estimates of 100-700 million acres around 1900. The prairie dog may soon receive protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Threats to prairie dogs are multiple: poisoning, bulldozing, shooting, and plague. All contribute to the reduction of prairie dog acres and to the condition of small, isolated and fragmented prairie dog populations, which may seriously threaten prairie dog viability.

Poisoning has greatly reduced prairie dog populations, and it continues to be unrestricted on private lands. In the 1920’s alone, 13 million hectares (approx. 32 million acres) of prairie dogs were poisoned in the U.S. In Colorado, 91% of prairie dogs had been eliminated through poisoning as early as 1912. Today, poisoning continues. Federal agencies distribute poison to land owners and poison prairie dogs on federal land.

Other threats to prairie dogs include development and shooting. In Colorado, development alone may account for a 25% overall reduction in prairie dog acres. Shooting also causes dramatic population reductions and social disruption, which may result in genetic inbreeding.

Prairie dogs control sagebrush, mesquite, prickly pear, and other weeds noxious to native ungulates and livestock. For example, studies show that prairie dogs consume mesquite, an invader which degrades the economic value of rangeland and makes round-ups difficult. Prairie dogs also eat grasshoppers, which benefits agriculture.

Even with government subsidized extirpation programs, it costs ranchers more money to control prairie dogs than is gained in increased forage. Often, it costs more per acre to poison than the land is worth. Ranchers who exterminate prairie dogs may be wasting time and money.

Now that cattle are no longer run in herds, it is extremely rare for livestock to break their legs in prairie dog burrows. As long as cattle are permitted to see where they are going, they easily avoid burrows. Many ranchers scoff at this rural fable.

Discover Prairie Dogs

Can they Transmit Rabies?

While all mammals are believed to be susceptible to rabies, there have been no recorded cases of prairie dogs transmitting rabies to humans. Most likely the animal is killed in the initial attack by a rabid animal, or dies shortly thereafter, before it can develop rabies. Never the less any rabid animal is potentially capable of rabies virus transmission. If the prairie dogs appear to be "frisky" they are most likely healthy and free of disease. Regardless of their condition, prairie dogs, like other wild animals, should not be handled.

Do Prairie Dogs Hibernate?

The Gunnison prairie dogs in Albuquerque do not hibernate. However, they go into a type of hibernation called Torpor ... Usually between November and March. Black-tailed prairie dogs do not.

How Often do Prairie Dogs have Babies?

The usual litter is 3 to 5 pups once a year in May. The babies come above ground in June and begin to eat grasses and weeds instead of nursing. Only about 50% of the pups will survive more than 6 months.

Beneath the vast desert sun, prairie dogs carved out their kingdom, thriving where the sands met the sky.

Architecture of an Artificial Burrow

The picture above illustrates one example of an artificial burrow.  PDP uses a slightly different design.  We use a 25-gallon, plastic nursery pot for what we call the nesting box (described in the illustration as the “initial burrow chamber or room”).  We attach a ten-foot long tube to the side of the upside-down nursery pot for an entrance/exit tunnel, as shown.  Our second tube, unlike the one in the picture, we install through the top of the nursery pot, extending down into it so that the end of the tube sits a few inches above the base.  We dig a hole in the ground roughly four feet deep, lay a piece of hardware cloth in the bottom, and then set on that the upside-down nursery pot with attached tubes.  The hardware cloth prevents the prairie dogs from digging out of the nesting box, while the tubes allow them to climb to the surface.  When we release the prairie dogs, we usually send them down the vertical tube; gravity encourages them to proceed to the bottom rather that stopping in the tube and causing a traffic-jam.

After inserting the prairie dogs into the artificial burrows, we place a containment cage (we call them cage caps) over each egress tube.  We continue to feed and monitor the prairie dogs for up to five days.  This gives them a chance to acclimate to their new surroundings.  Then we remove the cage caps and allow them to “escape” from the artificial burrows.  Able to come and go as they please, they continue to use the man-made burrows as a refuge from predators and for temporary shelter until they can construct their own burrows.

Feeding Guidelines

Following is an overview of feeding considerations for urban prairie dogs.  While we do not advocate feeding wild animals, the lack of sufficient native vegetation at urban sites or drought conditions may prevent the resident prairie dogs from getting sufficient nourishment from their environment.  In these cases supplemental feeding should be considered. 

Recommended foods:

Timothy Hay Carrots (1/2-1” pieces)

Apples pieces (quarters or eights) Black Oil Sunflower Seeds

Suitable foods:

Green Leafy Vegetables Fruits:

Kale Peaches (cut up)

Lettuce(quarters or eighths)Grapes

SpinachMelons(cut up)

Peanuts in shells (not salted)Corn on the Cob (no husk)

Grass HayFresh Cut Lawn Grass (no chemicals)

Unsuitable foods:

Meat or Fish Cheese

Bread Cakes

Cookies Candy

Cruciferous vegetables

Prairie dogs also like flowers, but they don’t like citrus, broccoli, zucchini or potatoes.  Non-salt protein and seed feed blocks for cattle and birds may or may not be eaten by prairie dogs (depending on the availability of other forage). Some prairie dogs like alfalfa and grass based horse feed pellets.  Smaller feed pellets are preferred as the larger ones are too big for them to eat easily.  

Alfalfa hay is not suitable for young prairie dogs and in certain conditions can cause a serious and fatal condition in older prairie dogs.  It is recommended that timothy or grass hay be used for feeding.

Some local grocers will provide produce that would otherwise be thrown out.  While much of the produce can be used, if it is too spoiled of human consumption it is likely too spoiled for prairie dogs as well.

Grass cuttings that have been fertilized or sprayed with herbicides or pesticides are not suitable for prairie dogs.

Seasonal Considerations and Hydration:

February to April

Under normal conditions prairie dogs will emerge from their winter hibernation during March when the weather becomes warmer and the days longer.  During mild winters the prairie dogs may emerge earlier and either stay up or return to hibernation depending on the weather and temperature. After emerging from hibernation, prairie dogs require nourishment and hydration.  If they can obtain these through natural vegetation from their habitat they will be stronger throughout the season and be capable of producing healthy offspring.  If suitable natural vegetation is not available supplemental food and hydration (shallow dishes filled with water) may be necessary.  Frequency:  Once a week.

May and June

At this time the focus should be on protein: sunflower seeds and protein blocks.  Pregnant and lactating females need lots of strength, as do the newborn juveniles.  Alfalfa hay must not be fed once the juveniles have emerged from the burrows.  Alfalfa will cause intestinal hemorrhaging leading to their death.  Alfalfa can also cause a fatal condition in adults under certain circumstances.  While not recommended Alfalfa can be used later in the season after the juveniles have matured.  Processed and peeled baby carrots should not be used for small prairie dogs as they can become lodged in their throats and cause choking.  Frequency:  Twice a week.

July and August

This is the time of the year when Gunnison’s consume three times more than at any time of the year to plump up for their hibernation.  The best advice is to feed them abundantly and frequently.  The juveniles mature in about 3 months so they will require a steady diet as well.  Frequency:  Every three to four days.

September and October

This begins the period when their activity level begins to decline.  You will notice that less and less food is being consumed and fewer numbers of prairie dogs are out and about.  This is the time of the year to concentrate on hay and grass.  The prairie dogs will need large amounts of nesting material to stay warm in their burrows and to nibble on throughout the winter months.  Feeding of alfalfa is fine as it provides high protein calories for the winter months.

Basic Recommendations

To prevent produce from drying or rotting and birds from eating the seed, food should be placed into the burrows whenever possible.  You will get a feel for which burrows are active (food disappears) and you can concentrate on these.  Water is encouraged, especially right after hibernation and during periods of drought.  In some areas, stress due to urban crowding, prairie dogs can become easily dehydrated.  Their metabolism, however, is geared to getting moisture from their fresh green food sources.  Feeding of apples, carrots, and other moist produce is often sufficient for providing water.

In the wild, Gunnison’s are pure “desert” dogs, getting their nourishment and water from native grasses and other growth such as sagebrush, snake weed, goat heads and prickly pear cactus.  An occasional insect provides protein.

Prairie dogs can go for “some time” for food and moisture, but if food is available, they will eat often.  Therefore, we should consider feeding them with balance in mind.  We do not want them to feel starvation or want for food and water in urban areas where there is no natural food.  We also want to be responsible stewards and not feed so heavily that food is left uneaten, causes the prairie dogs to become obese, or stimulates birth rate.  Fat prairie dogs are not necessarily healthy and happy prairie dogs.  Feeding every 3-7 days is adequate for most colonies and conditions.  

Sources for Timothy, Grass hay, and Seeds 

Horseman’s Feed and Supply – 9700 2nd St. NW

Western Mercantile Old Rt. 66, Tijeras

Edgewood Feed and Supply – Old Route 66, Edgewood

Broome’s Feed and Supply – Highway 41 S. Moriarity

Burrowing Owls

Burrowing owls nest in underground burrows, which is how they got their name. They often use burrows created by other burrowing animals such as prairie dogs or ground squirrels. If burrows are unavailable and the soil is not hard or rocky, the owls may dig their own. They will also nest in underground man-made structures that have easy access to the surface. Burrowing owls commonly take over prairie dog burrows and live as their neighbors.

Burrowing owls primarily eat mice, insects, fruits, and seeds. While they may consume baby or dead prairie dogs, they are not their main food source. Unlike most owls, burrowing owls are active during the day, usually hunting at dawn and dusk.

Burrowing owls produce a variety of sounds, including the “who who” call, clucks, chattering, and screams. One of their most interesting vocalizations is a hissing sound that mimics a rattlesnake, which they use when alarmed.

Burrowing owls are year-round residents in some areas, while in others, they migrate south for the winter. They often return to the same location, sometimes even the same burrow. However, urban development is rapidly reducing their habitat, and many owls return from migration to find their homes destroyed.

Yes, burrowing owls are federally protected migratory birds. Intentionally harming or disturbing them can result in fines of up to $10,000. Developers must ensure they do not disturb burrowing owls or must relocate them if they are found in construction areas. Unfortunately, their nests are often overlooked or ignored, and habitat destruction remains a major threat. If you see burrowing owls in danger, contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department at 505-248-6282.

Scientific Classification for Prairie Dogs

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Rodentia

Suborder: Sciuromorpha

Family: Sciuridae (squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, and prairie dogs) 

Tribe: Marmotini

Genus: Cynomys

Ground Hogs and Wood Chucks are also in the marmot family.  Beavers are rodents, but they are in the Castoridae family.

Mice and rats are rodents, but in the Family Muridae

Voles are rodents, but in the Family Cricetidae

Moles are rodents but in the Family Talpidae

Gophers are rodents, but in the Family Geomyidae

The Mustelidae (from Latin mustela, weasel) are in the order of carnivorous mammals (Carnivora), including the otters, skunks, badgers, weasels, ferrets, martens, minks, raccoons, and wolverines. The Mustelidae ARE NOT rodents.

Rabbits are not rodents, they are in the order Lagomorpha.

Human beings are Animalia/Chordata/Mammalia; the order however, is Primates.

City Prairie Dogs

Prairie dogs in the city are often found in small pockets of land such as undeveloped city lots, “right of ways” along roads and freeways, public park areas that buffer roads, and underdeveloped private and public spaces. These areas have limited food sources, and prairie dogs cannot escape to natural wilderness areas. During stressful times, such as droughts, supplemental care may be needed, as natural vegetation may not be enough to support the population.

It is very unlikely to contract Tularemia from prairie dogs. The disease is typically transmitted through open cuts or sores when handling the skins of infected animals, like rabbits. In an urban setting, the risk of contracting Tularemia from a prairie dog is minimal.

If a prairie dog colony is active with frisky prairie dogs that hide when you approach, they are most likely healthy. Healthy prairie dogs tend to be more alert and exhibit natural behaviors, while sick or stressed prairie dogs may show signs of lethargy or abnormal behavior.

Within the city boundaries the prairie dogs have few natural predators to control their population growth and trapping and relocation is needed. Relocation is also needed when road widening and site development threatens to eliminate a prairie dog community.

Gunnison's Prairie Dog

Description:   Yellowish buff mixed with black above, slightly paler below. Short, white-tipped tail. terminal half of tail grayish white in center. 12-14″ in height, weighing 23-42 ounces. Lives 3-5 years in the wild, longer in captivity.

Similar Species:  White-tailed and Utah prairie dogs have white in center of tail rather than grayish. Black-tailed Prairie Dog’s tail has black tip.

Breeding: 1 litter per year of 1–8 young, breeding in early spring, gestation 27–33 days, born in early May, weaning 27-35 days, pups emerge mid June.  

Habitat:  Short grass prairies in high mountain valleys and plateaus of southern Rocky Mountains at elevations of 6,000–12,000’ (1,800–3,600 m). Habitat is much more variable topographically and vegetationally than that of the Black-tailed Prairie Dog, which occurs at lower elevations.

Range:  Southeastern Utah, south and central Colorado, northeast and central Arizona, and northwest New Mexico.

Discussion:  Gunnison’s Prairie Dog, like the rest of its kin, is active only when the sun is up (diurnal), and is most energetic near dawn and dusk. It is constantly vigilant while aboveground, often sitting upright on its hind feet while it pursues its main activities: mainly feeding, but also grooming and playing. This animal generally is seen from April to October. It hibernates (torpor) in winter, living on stored body fat. It usually emerges in April, though they will emerge earlier if the winter is mild.  Gunnison’s Prairie Dog feeds on green vegetation, particularly grasses, but also forbs, sedges, and shrubs, as well as a few insects. Its colonies are generally smaller and less closely knit than those of other prairie dogs, resembling ground squirrel aggregations, with fewer than 50 to 100 individuals. The animals in the colony cannot always see one another because their habitat is in such varied and patchy terrain, which is caused in part by human activities. On flat ground and where this prairie dog is protected colonies are much larger and more extensive. This species’ burrow systems can be up to 80 feet long and 16 feet deep in well-established colonies. Burrows can have food storage, flood, nesting, communal and excrement chambers. Territoriality is not well developed in Gunnison’s Prairie Dog, although old males may defend small areas outside their burrows. Mother-young relationships form the basic social unit. Newborns remain in the burrow about three weeks before emerging and are weaned about three weeks later. The female sits almost straight up on her haunches to nurse her young, who suckle either pectoral or inguinal (hind leg) nipples. Gunnison’s alarm call, distinctive among prairie dogs, is important to the survival and structure of the community. It is a series of high-pitched barks of one or two distinct syllables, with the second syllable lower and more guttural. The call may be repeated frequently and may continue for as long as half an hour. It increases in intensity as danger escalates, and ends in chatter as the animal enters its burrow. Predators include American Badgers, Coyotes, weasels, and raptors. Plague (Yersina pestis), carried by fleas, can decimate populations of this species. However, humans, through their extermination programs, are the chief enemy of Gunnison’s Prairie Dog.

Saving Habitats, Securing Futures

Lend a Paw for Prairie Dogs!

Prairie dogs play a vital role in their ecosystem, but their habitats are disappearing. Together, we can ensure their future—one action at a time.

Donate