Species Description: Prairie dogs occur only in North America.
They are rodents within the squirrel family and include five
species-- the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus),
the white-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys leucurus), the Gunnison
prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni), the Utah prairie dog (Cynomys
parvidens), and the Mexican prairie dog (Cynomys mexicanus)
(Pizzimenti 1975). The Utah and Mexican prairie dogs are
currently listed under the Endangered Species Act as threatened
(49 FR 22339) and endangered (35 FR 8495) respectively.
Generally, the black-tailed prairie dog occurs east of the other
four species in more mesic habitat. Prairie dogs are small,
stout ground squirrels. The total length of an adult black-
tailed prairie dog is approximately 14-17 inches. The weight of
an individual ranges from 1 to 3 pounds. Individual appearances
within the species vary in mixed colors of brown, black, gray,
and white. The black-tipped tail is characteristic (Hoogland
1995). Black-tailed prairie dogs are di