“Prairie dogs are burrowing ground squirrels of the North American grasslands, not dogs at all. They live in family groups called coteries inside large colonies known as towns, eat mostly grasses, and use some of the most complex alarm calls known in any animal. Many grassland species depend on their burrows.”
Drive across the Great Plains and you might see dozens of small, tan heads popping up from mounds of dirt, standing upright to scan the horizon. Those are prairie dogs, and they’re far more interesting than their cute appearance suggests. Their towns once stretched for miles, their calls carry detailed information about predators, and their digging shapes the entire grassland ecosystem.
Prairie Dog Quick Facts
| Trait | Details |
|---|---|
| Family | Squirrels (Sciuridae) |
| Genus | Cynomys |
| Species | Black-tailed, white-tailed, Gunnison’s, Utah, and Mexican |
| Weight | About 1.5 to 3.3 pounds |
| Length | About 12 to 16 inches including a short tail |
| Range | Grasslands of the western and central U.S., southern Canada, and northern Mexico |
| Diet | Mostly grasses and other plants, some insects |
| Lifespan | Often 3 to 5 years in the wild; longer in captivity |
Why Are They Called Prairie Dogs?
Early European explorers heard their sharp, bark-like alarm calls and named them after dogs. In reality, prairie dogs belong to the squirrel family, making them close relatives of groundhogs, marmots, and chipmunks. See how they fit into the bigger picture in types of squirrels and types of rodents.
The Five Species
- Black-tailed prairie dog: the most widespread and the most familiar, found across the Great Plains. Named for its black-tipped tail.
- White-tailed prairie dog: lives at higher elevations in the Rocky Mountain region and has a white-tipped tail.
- Gunnison’s prairie dog: found in the Four Corners region of the Southwest.
- Utah prairie dog: the smallest range of any species, limited to southern Utah; listed as threatened in the U.S.
- Mexican prairie dog: found in a small area of northern Mexico and considered endangered.
Life in a Prairie Dog Town
Prairie dogs live in colonies called towns. Historically, some black-tailed prairie dog towns covered huge areas and held millions of animals. Within a town, prairie dogs live in smaller family units called coteries, usually made up of one adult male, several females, and their young. Each coterie defends its own section of the town.
Their burrows are engineering marvels. A single burrow system can include several entrances, listening posts near the surface, nesting chambers, and toilet chambers. Mounds around the entrances act as lookout points and help keep rainwater out.
Prairie Dog “Kisses”
When two prairie dogs from the same coterie meet, they often touch front teeth in what looks like a kiss. This greeting helps members recognize one another. If an outsider tries it, the result is usually a chase. They also groom each other, which strengthens bonds within the family.
A Remarkable Language
Prairie dogs are famous for their alarm calls. Research on Gunnison’s prairie dogs, led by biologist Con Slobodchikoff, found that their calls differ depending on the type of predator, such as a hawk, coyote, dog, or human, and may even carry information about a predator’s size, shape, and color. Other prairie dogs respond differently to each call, diving into burrows for a hawk or standing alert at the entrance for a coyote.
Black-tailed prairie dogs also perform the “jump-yip,” stretching upward and calling with such force they sometimes topple backward. The display spreads like a wave through the town and may help individuals check whether their neighbors are alert. Read more about rodent communication in how rodents communicate and see where prairie dogs rank in the smartest rodents.
What Prairie Dogs Eat
Prairie dogs are mainly herbivores, eating grasses, forbs, seeds, and roots, plus the occasional insect. They also clip tall vegetation around their towns, which keeps sightlines open so they can spot predators coming.
Do Prairie Dogs Hibernate?
It depends on the species. White-tailed, Gunnison’s, and Utah prairie dogs hibernate through winter. Black-tailed prairie dogs don’t truly hibernate; they stay active on mild winter days and may enter short periods of torpor during cold spells. See do rodents hibernate for more.
Why Prairie Dogs Are a Keystone Species
Many grassland animals depend on prairie dog towns:
- Black-footed ferrets rely almost entirely on prairie dogs for food and use their burrows as shelter.
- Burrowing owls nest in abandoned burrows.
- Hawks, eagles, badgers, and foxes hunt prairie dogs.
- Bison and pronghorn often graze on the fresh, nutritious plants that grow in prairie dog towns.
- Soil is aerated and mixed by their digging, improving water infiltration.
Learn more about rodents’ ecological roles in why rodents matter to ecosystems.
Threats to Prairie Dogs
Prairie dogs have lost most of their historic range. The main threats are:
- Habitat loss from farming and development
- Poisoning and shooting by people who view them as pests competing with livestock
- Sylvatic plague, a bacterial disease spread by fleas that can wipe out entire towns
Because black-footed ferrets depend on prairie dogs, their decline pushed ferrets to the edge of extinction. Conservationists now vaccinate prairie dogs against plague in some areas to protect both species. Read about other at-risk species in endangered rodents.
Prairie Dogs as Pets
Prairie dogs have been kept as exotic pets, but they’re demanding. They need to dig, need companions, and can be difficult during breeding season. Laws vary by state, and some areas restrict them. In 2003, a monkeypox outbreak in the U.S. was linked to prairie dogs that had been housed with imported African rodents, which led to a temporary federal ban on their sale. For most people, prairie dogs are best enjoyed in the wild. See our exotic vs common pet rodents guide.
Prairie Dogs vs Groundhogs
Both are burrowing members of the squirrel family, but groundhogs are larger, mostly solitary, and live in woodland edges and fields, while prairie dogs are smaller, highly social, and live in open grasslands. See our groundhog facts and compare both with the world’s largest rodent in capybara vs groundhog.
Where to See Prairie Dogs
Many national parks and wildlife refuges in the West protect prairie dog towns, including Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, and Devils Tower National Monument. Watch from a distance, don’t feed them, and remember that their fleas can carry plague.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are prairie dogs dogs?
No. They’re rodents in the squirrel family, named for their bark-like calls.
How many prairie dogs live in a town?
Towns range from a few dozen to thousands of animals, organized into small family coteries.
Do prairie dogs really talk?
Their alarm calls carry specific information about predators, which some researchers describe as a simple language.
Are prairie dogs endangered?
The Mexican prairie dog is endangered and the Utah prairie dog is threatened. Others have declined but aren’t listed as endangered.