Species Name: Black-tailed Prairie Dog

Length: 14 to 16 ¼ inches

Height: 2 ¼ to 4 ¼ inches

Weight: 31 ¾ to 48 oz

Description: Pinkish brown above; whitish or buff-white below. The slim, sparely haired tail is unique among prairie dogs for having a black tip. Short rounded ears; large black eyes,

Sign: Conical entrance mound to burrow of about 2' wide and often wider, resembling a miniature volcano.

Tracks: hind print 1 ¼ inches long with five toes printing; fore print slightly smaller, with four toe printing.

Habitat/Range: Short grass Prairies in Eastern Montana and southwestern North Dakota south to northwestern Texas, New Mexico, and extreme southeastern Arizona.

This mammal is diurnal and often sleeps in its burrow to avoid the mid day heat during the summer months. It can be found above ground in the mornings and evenings and is most active at this time. On cool overcast days it can be found above ground all day. During periods of severe cold and snow the prairie dog does not hibernate but rather goes into a mild torpor for a few days in it's burrow.

Prairie Dogs live in towns as they are very gregarious. These towns can be made up of several thousand individuals covering 100 acres or more. The town is divided into territorial neighborhoods, which in turn are made up of several "corteries" or family groups of 1 male to 1-4 females and their young of up to two years.

Each burrow is made up of an entrance and several exits. Inside are "rooms" consisting of a tunnel that serves as a listening room, a deeper tunnel that is long and horizontal that comprises the nesting chambers, and an excrement chamber. The prairie dog covers its excrement with dirt and as this chamber fills another one is being dug.

Many people see the Prairie Dog as a nuisance. However, this little animal is a keystone species in the grassland habitat. Burrows created by the Prairie Dog provide shelter for other animals; their eating habits alter the vegetation thus allowing a variety of other animals to find food. Mountain Plovers prefer Prairie Dog colonies due to the number of insects. Black-footed ferrets are dependent on the Prairie Dog as a food source. Altering the prairie ecosystem by eliminating this vitally important species will have a significant impact on the natural balance to this land.

Nesting: Four brown-spotted, grayish eggs in a loosely made stick nest of thorns; lined with rootlets or grass and placed in a bush or small tree.

Diet: 98% of it's food consists of green plants, including grasses such as bluegrass, brome grass, and in Texas burro grass and purple needle grass. It also eats insects, but very rarely meat.

Tips on Photography: Both early morning and late evening lighting work to present the subject in warm light thus enhancing their "cuddle appeal". However, I find the prairie dog most active later in the day. A low angle as with most subjects will give an intimate feel to the image. Moving in close works great, but just remember these mammals move fast and for action shots you need to leave room in the frame for their movement. Look for behavior shots as these mammals are very social.

Prairie Dog colonies can provide additional photo opportunities of other subjects. Burrowing owls, Willets, Swainson's Hawks, Scaled Quail, and even American Avocet to name a few can be found. For a full listing see "Prairie Dogs, a Wildlife Handbook" by Kim Long.

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