Prairie dogs are large rodents (over 2 pounds) in the squirrel family (Sciuridae). They are social, living together in groups (called coteries) in a network of burrows (called towns) which they dig into the soil. Towns can be home to anywhere from 50 to millions of individual prairie dogs. They eat a variety of grasses, and because they are limited to flat grassland hatbitats, they are often percieved by ranchers as a nuisance. As a result, billions of prairie dogs have been killed or forced from their towns to make way for grazing cattle.

Cynomys ludovicianus, the black-tailed prairie dog, can be found in the grasslands of central Texas north to Canada. Historically, they were more widesread, but eradication attempts and habitat destruction have limited their distribution. Cynomys mexicanus, the Mexican prairie dog, is found only in the arid (dry) high-elevation grasslands of northern Mexico; it is now endangered.

Prairie dogs are the natural prey of a number of animals: hawks, eagles, foxes, coyotes and more. Humans also pose a threat to them. As a result, they spend much of their time watching for predators. In order to see as far as possible, a prairie dog will often stand on its hind legs and scan for danger. If it feels threatened, it may throw its head back and give a loud call to alert its coterie. Other individuals may sit very still at the entrance to a burrow.

The videos below are of Mexican prairie dogs (Cynomys mexicanus), or perrito de las praderas, at San Rafael, Galeana, Nuevo León, México.

A prairie dog gives an alarm call, which is answered by another individual
Video (16 seconds)

Two prairie dogs forage (look for food) and alternate watching for predators
Video (28 seconds)

A prairie dog watches for predators at the entrance to its burrow
Video (42 seconds)
Video (20 seconds)

A prairie dog give alarm calls from the entrance of its burrow, as two of its coterie forage and interact behind it
Video (1 minute, 52 seconds)

A prairie dog forages and scans for predators
Video (2 minutes, 1 second)

Close-up of the entrance to an old prairie dog burrow, marked with feces
Video (17 seconds)

Images on TIDES:
Prairie dogs

Related Links:
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Mammals of Texas)
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (National Zoo)
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Texas Parks and Wildlife)
Cynomysludovicianus, the Black-tailed Praire Dog (Animal Diversity Web)
Cynomys mexicanus, the Mexican Prairie Dog (Animal Diversity Web)
Ground squirrels and prairie dogs (Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute)
Prairie dogs (DesertUSA)
Underdogs: Prairie Dogs at Home (National Geographic)

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Video: Priscilla Coulter, SFASU Library