About
The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) is a colonial species that lives in large ranges centered on the Great Plains; its burrows are divided into rooms for different uses and form vast “towns.” Its diet is almost entirely plant-based, preferring broad-leaved herbaceous plants, and it obtains water from its food. Social organization is based on coteries, and individuals communicate using a variety of vocalizations. It is an ecologically important keystone species; populations were once reduced by widespread extermination but it is currently listed as Least Concern.
