Wildlife Habitat Management Institute 

Black-tailed Prairie Dog 

(Cynomys ludovicianus) 

January 2003 Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet Number 23 

General Information 

The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) 

is a diurnal, burrowing rodent that inhabits primarily 

shortgrass and mixed-grass prairies and desert 

grasslands of the North American Great Plains. The 

shortgrass prairie includes rolling to flat plains 

dominated by native grasses, mainly blue grama and 

buffalograss. Sandwiched between the shortgrass 

prairie to the west and the tallgrass prairie to the east 

is the mixed-grass prairie. Native vegetation includes 

grama species, western wheatgrass, and grasses and 

forbs that vary by region. Desert grasslands occur in 

the southern portion of the range of the black-tailed 

prairie dog, and may include mesquite, cholla, and 

yucca. Although adaptable to different kinds of 

vegetation, black-tailed prairie dogs prefer short 

vegetation on relatively level terrain (less than 10 

percent slope). Grazing by domestic livestock or large, 

wild ungulates such as bison may improve habitat for 

prairie dogs by reducing vegetation height and density. 

Of the five North American prairie dog species, the 

black-tailed prairie dog was historically the most 

common and widespread. Over the last century, the 

range of the black-tailed prairie dog has been greatly 

reduced. Population decline has been primarily caused 

by habitat loss. Remaining populations are small and 

isolated as a result of habitat fragmentation. Intentional 

eradication efforts with the intent of improving range 

condition for livestock, and unregulated recreational 

shooting have also affected populations in some areas. 

Sylvatic plague, caused by a bacterium transmitted to 

black-tailed prairie dogs by fleas, can decimate local 

colonies. While sylvatic plague has little effect on 

humans, it results in nearly 100 percent mortality in 

infected prairie dog colonies. Residential development 

and intensification of agricultural and other land uses 

are also factors affecting prairie dog populations. 

Victor Love, IBM Boulder, Colorado 

Black-tailed prairie dogs are highly social, gregarious 

animals. Prairie dog “towns” are composed of smaller 

groups called “wards,” and even smaller family units called 

“coteries.” 

Many other wildlife species use the unique habitat created by the foraging and burrowing activities of prairie 

dogs. Prairie dogs also serve as an important food 

base for many predators, including ferruginous hawks 

and other raptors. Mammalian predators include badgers, coyotes, bobcats, and foxes. The most endangered mammal in North America, the black-footed 

ferret, relies exclusively on prairie dogs for food and 

their burrow systems for cover. The burrowing owl 

uses abandoned tunnel systems for nesting. Mountain 

plovers and horned larks prefer the mosaic of bare 

ground-short grass habitat maintained by prairie dog 

activities. Rattlesnakes and other reptiles, rabbits, 

hares, and small mammals are drawn to the food and 

cover associated within prairie dog towns. Grassland 

birds such as meadowlarks are also attracted to insects that inhabit prairie dog towns. 

The relationship between black-tailed prairie dog clipping and foraging activities and quality and availability 

of forage for domestic livestock is commonly misunderstood. Clipping refers to the action of removing, 

1
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) 

Federal and State Status of the Black-tailed 

Prairie Dog 

Federal agency status: 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service— Candidate 

Bureau of Land Management— Special 

State status: 

Montana— Nongame wildlife

North Dakota— Nongame wildlife

South Dakota— Game wildlife

Wyoming— Species of Special Concern

Nebraska— Nongame wildlife

Kansas— Wildlife

Colorado— Small game species

New Mexico— No legal listing

Arizona— Extirpated

Oklahoma— Species of Special Concern

Texas— Nongame wildlife

Status in Mexico: 

Amenazada— Threatened 

*for more information about global, federal, 

state, Natural Heritage Program, and other 

rankings for individual species, see the 

Association for Biodiversity Information 

website at http://www.abi.org . 

but not consuming, vegetation near burrows to increase 

visibility needed to detect predators. Clipped vegetation may be placed in underground chambers, possibly as nest lining. Similar to grazing, burning, and other 

disturbances that remove mature vegetation, clipping 

encourages new plant growth that is palatable to other 

wild herbivores and domestic livestock. 

The black-tailed prairie dog was part of the original, 

biologically productive ecological system that brought 

cattlemen to the grasslands of the Great Plains. Ranchers and other landowners have long viewed prairie 

dogs as agricultural pests that compete with domestic 

W. Gilgert, NRCS 

Black-tailed prairie dogs clip the vegetation around burrow entrances to increase visibility. 

livestock for forage. Burrowing and foraging activities can also damage crops, irrigation systems, and 

increase erosion. However, black-tailed prairie dogs 

may not always directly compete with livestock for 

forage (depending on season, prescribed grazing system used and stocking rates). While prairie dogs do 

reduce the total amount of forage available for livestock within their colonies, clipping activities which 

maintain the vegetation in early successional stages has 

been shown to improve the nutritional quality of the 

forage that remains. On the other hand, if the height of 

this remaining vegetation is too low for cattle to graze 

(e.g., < 2 inches tall), very little of this higher quality 

forage may actually be available for livestock consumption. Black-tailed prairie dog and livestock management must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis 

to meet range condition, landowner, and natural resource objectives. 

This leaflet provides an introduction to the habitat 

requirements and management of black-tailed prairie 

dogs to assist landowners and managers in developing 

comprehensive prairie dog management plans. The 

success of any species-specific management plan 

depends on analyzing existing habitat conditions to 

ensure that all required habitat elements for the desired 

species are present. Habitat management practices 

that can be used to enhance black-tailed prairie dog 

habitat are suggested. Landowners and managers are 

encouraged to enlist the expertise of wildlife and natural 

resource professionals to help identify additional habitat 

management needs and actions. 

2
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) 

Range 

The historical range of the black-tailed prairie dog 

extends from extreme southern Saskatchewan, south 

through eastern Montana, southwest North Dakota, 

western South Dakota, eastern Wyoming, most of 

Nebraska and Kansas, eastern Colorado, most of New 

Mexico, southeast Arizona, western Oklahoma, 

northwest Texas, and extreme northern Mexico. 

Black-tailed prairie dogs currently occupy only about 

one million acres within their historical range. Estimates 

of the acreage this species once occupied range from 

100 million acres to over 300 million acres. For 

comparisons of historical and current ranges, 

population estimates, and 10-year acreage objectives 

for the black-tailed prairie dog by state, see Van Pelt 

1999 and Luce 2001. 

Historical range of the black-tailed prairie dog in the continental United States. For a comparison of historical and 

current range and population estimates by state, see Van 

Pelt 1999 and Luce 2001. 

Habitat Requirements 

General 

Prairie dogs are associated with early successional 

vegetation and shortgrass prairie dominated by 

buffalograss and grama species, mixed-grass prairies, 

and desert grasslands grazed by wild herbivores and 

domestic livestock. They favor or create open areas 

with low-growing, early successional vegetation. 

Ungrazed areas with heavy brush or tall grass are 

avoided. Black-tailed prairie dogs are rarely found 

above elevations of 7,800 feet and are most commonly 

found below 6,000 feet. Prairie dogs are active yearround, but may spend extended periods of time 

underground during winter or harsh weather. Blacktailed prairie dogs hibernate in extreme northern regions 

and may go into light hibernation during severe winter 

weather in other portions of their range. 

Although black-tailed prairie dogs are year-round 

residents, they will travel up to 10 miles in search of 

new territory or other breeding adults. Habitat 

Black-tailed Prairie Dog 

Town Organization 

Black-tailed prairie dogs are highly social, 

gregarious animals that live in large groupings 

called “towns” or colonies. The largest prairie 

dog town on record was found by Vernon Bailey 

in Texas around 1900: 100 miles wide and 

250 miles long with approximately 400 million 

individuals. Population density varies from 5-

35 prairie dogs/ac. Towns are divided into 

smaller “wards,” which are about 5 acres in 

size. Wards are generally separated by physical 

barriers such as streams, roads, or groups of 

trees. Wards are further divided into 

“coteries.” Coteries typically consist of one 

adult male, one to four adult females, and any 

offspring less than two years old (sexual 

maturity is reached at two years of age). 

Coteries are about one acre in size and are 

defended as territories. 

3
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) 

Physical Facts 

Description: Darker buff, tan, or brownish above; pale buff below; terminal one-third of tail is black; 

small ears; well-developed claws on feet for digging. 

Size: Head and body length 11-13 inches (28-33cm); tail length 3-4 inches (76-102 mm). 

Weight: 2-3 lbs (900-1350 g). 

Voice: Danger signal is a two-syllable bark repeated at a rate of about 40 barks per minute. 

Breeding, gestation, and young: Breed January-March in southern parts of range, March-April in 

more northern parts of range; gestation 28-32 days, young usually born in April/May; one litter per year, 

usually 3-6 naked pups; at 5-6 weeks of age pups emerge for first time to graze vegetation. 

Behavior: Highly social; physical contact very important within coteries; mouth-to-mouth greetings and 

grooming. 

Comments: Typically live 3-4 years in the wild; breed at two years of age; diurnal, active during daylight 

hours; retreat to burrows during hottest times of day and at night; similar species include the white-tailed 

prairie dog, Gunnison’s prairie dog, and the rock squirrel (smaller with longer tail). 

requirements for breeding, foraging, and overwintering 

are similar. Nesting chambers are excavated in the 

underground burrow systems, and may be lined with 

dried grass clippings removed from around burrow 

entrances. 

The clipping and foraging habits of black-tailed prairie 

dogs create a unique habitat of bare ground and short, 

sparse vegetation. As previously mentioned, several 

other wildlife species utilize these microhabitats for food 

and cover. Prairie dog foraging and digging activities 

may also alter vegetation composition over time to favor early-successional grasses and forbs. 

Food 

Grasses make up 60-95 percent of the black-tailed 

prairie dog diet, but preferred vegetation may vary 

regionally. Favored grasses include big bluestem, little 

bluestem, grama species, buffalograss, western wheatgrass, and sedges. Forbs such as scarlet globe mallow, tansyleaf aster, peppergrass, woolly plantain, and 

others are also important food plants, especially in the 

fall as grasses mature and decline in nutritional value. 

Seeds, roots, and shoots of forbs and grasses are also 

consumed, along with occasional grasshoppers and 

other invertebrates. Any type of vegetation is consumed during winter. 

The vegetation around burrow entrances is repeatedly 

clipped very close to the ground. In regions 

characterized by higher amounts of above-ground 

biomass produced by mid- and tallgrass species, 

continuous clipping actions reduce standing forage. 

Repeated clipping also favors some forbs, as well as 

growth of shortgrass species that are more resistant to 

constant grazing. 

Water 

Water content of vegetation consumed is sufficient to 

meet black-tailed prairie dog daily water requirements. 

Metabolic water is also retained. 

Minimum habitat requirements 

Studies in Colorado found active (occupied) blacktailed prairie dog colony size to range from one acre 

to 4,129 acres, with an average active colony size of 

75 acres. Most active colonies were in the 1 to 20-

acre size category, the second most common size 

category was 20 to 100 acres. 

4
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) 

Limiting Factors 

Table 1 provides a summary of black-tailed prairie 

dog habitat requirements. For planning purposes, use 

Table 2 to subjectively rate the availability and quality 

of black-tailed prairie dog habitat within a planning 

area, based on the habitat requirement descriptions 

listed in Table 1. Habitat communities and components 

that are absent or given a low rating are likely limiting 

black-tailed prairie dog habitat quality. Land uses on 

adjacent properties may need to be considered to 

accurately rate the quality of a habitat management 

area for prairie dogs. 

Habitat Management Recommendations 

Effective black-tailed prairie dog habitat management 

typically utilizes livestock grazing systems focused on 

maintaining native grassland vegetation. For long-term 

management of black-tailed prairie dogs, effective 

habitat management offers advantages for other wildlife and overall rangeland sustainability. 

Two common habitat modification methods used to 

manage prairie dog populations are: 1) Maintaining 

and enhancing shortgrass range conditions, and 2) 

Burrow Systems 

Many black-tailed prairie dog towns have an 

extensive underground burrow system, with up 

to 30-50 burrows per acre. Prairie dogs use 

their claws, which are well-adapted for digging, 

to excavate tunnels and chambers. Tunnels 

generally extend three to six feet below the 

ground surface, and may be 15 feet long. 

Several chambers may be hollowed out, 

including one or more nest chambers. Burrow 

systems are well ventilated. Excavated soil 

piled up in mounds around burrows serve as 

lookout points. Mounds can be one to two feet 

high, and mound groupings can be 25-75 feet 

apart. 

implementing prescribed grazing systems that include 

the black-tailed prairie dog as an animal unit when 

determining stocking rate, if large numbers of prairie 

dogs are present. Studies show that density of active 

burrows is higher in areas heavily grazed by livestock. 

In mid- and tallgrass regions the intensity of livestock 

grazing helps regulate the size and density of prairie 

Table 1. Summary of black-tailed prairie dog habitat requirements. 

Habitat component Habitat requirements 

Food Grasses make up 60-95 percent of diet. 

Favored grasses include big bluestem, little bluestem, grama species, 

buffalograss, western wheatgrass, and sedges. 

Forbs important, especially in fall. Favored forbs include scarlet globemallow, peppergrass, woolly plaintain, and others depending on region. 

Seeds, roots, and shoots of grasses and forbs consumed during winter. 

Occassional grasshopper or other invertebrate consumed. 

Water Daily water requirements met by vegetation consumed. 

Habitat, year-round 

Favor open areas with low vegetation. 

Associated with native shortgrass prairie dominated by buffalograss and 

grama species, along with other grasses and forbs that vary by region. 

Also inhabit mixed-grass prairies or rangelands heavily grazed by domestic 

livestock or wild ungulates. 

Ungrazed areas with heavy brush or taller grasses are avoided. 

Minimum habitat 

size 

Average active colony size in Colorado study is 75 acres. 

Most active colonies between one acre and 20 acres. 

5
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) 

Table 2. Factors that can limit habitat quality/quantity for black-tailed prairie dogs. 

Habitat Component 

Availability/Quality 

High Medium Low Absent 

Food 

General habitat (amount of short vegetation) 

Minimum habitat size 

dog populations. If mid- and tallgrasses are present 

and livestock are removed, prairie dogs may abandon 

the site. 

Adjusting livestock stocking rates is an effective means 

of managing prairie dog populations by maintaining 

plant stand diversity and height. Prescribed grazing 

that provides rest, or deferment, periods for sections 

of pasture or grazing land during the growing season 

allows vegetation to recover. Studies show that after 

a few years of successive deferment during the growing 

season, black-tailed prairie dog populations declined 

because the cattle were not present to reduce plant 

height to the suitability of prairie dogs. Even distribution 

of watering facilities and salt licks can also help manage 

prairie dog activities by controlling where livestock 

gather. 

Table 3 lists management activities that can be 

undertaken to maintain and improve black-tailed prairie 

dog habitat quality. Select conservation practices and 

assistance programs are also listed. 

In many instances, successful prairie dog management 

involves intensively grazing sections of land from time 

to time. In so doing, care must be taken to ensure 

plant damage does not occur. This practice can be 

done to essentially mimic the natural disturbance 

patterns of the large herds of bison that once inhabited 

much of the North American shortgrass prairie. 

Rotational grazing and other management prescriptions 

should be undertaken in the context of maintaining the 

desired habitat structure that occurs within the 

capability of the Ecological Site. For more information 

on use of Ecological Sites in rangeland management, 

refer to the NRCS Ecological Site Information System 

at http://trident.itc.nrcs.usda.gov/esis. 

Landowner Assistance 

Various private and public organizations can give 

rangeland owners and managers technical and financial 

natural resource planning assistance. Table 4 lists 

specific programs that provide assistance in 

implementing a variety of wildlife and natural resource 

conservation activities. 

Conservation measures 

In February 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

concluded that the black-tailed prairie dog is 

“warranted” for listing as a threatened species under 

the Endangered Species Act (ESA) but “precluded” 

from listing due to limited agency resources. 

Notwithstanding efforts to list the species under the 

ESA to increase protection, a number of public and 

private conservation measures are being undertaken 

to benefit black-tailed prairie dog populations. 

State and tribal governments have developed blacktailed prairie dog management and recovery plans. As 

of this writing, a number of states that contain blacktailed prairie dog historical range (Arizona, Kansas, 

Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South 

Dakota, and Texas) had signed a Memorandum of 

Understanding to develop a plan to manage, maintain 

and enhance prairie dog populations and their habitat 

across their historical range. Other states (e.g., 

Colorado and North Dakota) are developing prairie 

dog management plans as well. The multi-state 

Conservation Strategy seeks to reduce threats to 

black-tailed prairie dog habitats and populations 

through the voluntary cooperation of public and private 

landowners. The states are considering implementing 

landowner incentive programs to encourage 

6
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) 

Table 3. Management options for increasing habitat quality or availability for black-tailed prairie dogs. 

Habitat 

component Management options for increasing habitat quality or availability 

Conservation practices 

& assistance programs* 

Food 

If restoring croplands with native grass or reseeding range, 

use native grasses and forbs suited to the region; favored foods 

include sedges, western wheatgrass, grama grasses, and others; 

native forbs an important fall diet component. 

327, 528A, 645, 647 

WHIP, PFW 

Limit pesticide use on occupied or potential black-tailed prairie dog 

habitat. 

Use mechanical treatments, prescribed burns, or other methods to 

control woody species; can use prescribed grazing system for 

domestic livestock or allow intensive grazing by wild ungulates 

such as bison and pronghorn antelope. 

338, 528A, 645, 647 

PFW, WHIP, EQIP 

Breeding and 

winter cover 

If trying to increase black-tailed prairie dog habitat use, implement 

beneficial prescribed grazing on mixed-grass and tallgrass regions, 

especially if near an active prairie dog town. 

528A 

PFW, WHIP, EQIP 

Use mechanical treatments, prescribed burns, or other measures to 

control woody species; can use prescribed grazing system for 

domestic livestock or allow intensive grazing by wild ungulates 

such as bison and pronghorn antelope. 

338, 528A, 645, 647 

PFW, WHIP, EQIP 

If restoring croplands with native grass, allow intensive grazing 

to encourage shortgrasses and keep them from being shaded out 

by exotic and midgrass species and taller vegetation. 

327, 338 

WHIP, EQIP, PFW, CRP 

Limit pesticide use on occupied or potential black-tailed prairie dog 

habitat. 

Habitat 

interspersion 

Combine above prescriptions to increase habitat components 

or amount of suitable prairie dog habitat. 

Minimum 

habitat size 

Provide at least 75 acres of shortgrass prairie to support 

prairie dog colonies. 

Connectivity Give priority to habitat within 6 miles of existing colonies. 

* See Table 4 for program descriptions. 

landowners to voluntarily protect and manage prairie 

dog habitat on private lands. All states within the prairie 

dog’s range are assessing prairie dog population size 

and distribution, and setting long-term acreage and 

distribution goals. Efforts are also underway to explore 

changes in regulations to limit control by poisoning, if 

necessary, to maintain viable populations. 

More information is needed to facilitate proper 

management of black-tailed prairie dog populations 

and their habitat. Specifically, more research is needed 

on the effects of sylvatic plague on infected and 

recovering black-tailed prairie dog populations. Other 

NRCS Conservation practices that may be useful 

in undertaking the above management actions. 

Conservation Practice Code 

Brush Management 314 

Conservation Cover 327 

Prescribed Burning 338 

Prescribed Grazing 528A 

Range Planting 550 

Wetland Wildlife Habitat 

Management 644 

Upland Wildlife Management 645 

Early Successional Habitat 

Development 647 

7
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) 

Grazing Management Terms 

Animal Unit (AU): An animal unit (AU) is one mature cow of approximately 1,000 pounds and a calf up to 

weaning, usually 6 months of age, or their equivalent. 

Koford (1958) determined that 256 prairie dogs are equivalent to one cow in terms of forage consumption. 

Animal Unit Month (AUM): The amount of forage required by an animal unit for 1 month. 

Stocking rate: The number of specific kinds and classes of animals grazing or utilizing a unit of land for a 

specific period of time. May be expressed as animals per acre, hectare, or section, or the reciprocal (area 

of land/animal). When dual use is practiced (e.g., cattle and sheep), stocking rate is often expressed as 

animal units per unit of land or the reciprocal. 

Grazing system: A specialization of grazing management that defines systematically recur-ring periods of 

grazing and deferment for two or more pastures or management units. Descriptive common names, such as 

Merrill, Hormay, or South African switchback, may be used. However, the first usage of a grazing system 

name in a publication should be followed by a description using a standard format. This format shall consist 

of a numerical description in the following prescribed order: the number of pastures (or units), number of 

herds, length of grazing periods, length of deferment periods for any given unit in the system followed by an 

abbreviation of the unit of time used. 

Examples: 

Merrill system (4-3;12: 4 mo.) is a grazing system with 4 pastures, 3 herds of livestock, a 12-month 

grazing period, and a 4-month deferment period. 

South African switchback (2-1;3:3,6:3,3:6 mo.) is a grazing system with 2 pastures, 1 herd, and a grazing 

schedule of 3 months grazing, 3 months deferment, 6 months grazing, 3 months deferment, 3 

months grazing, 6 months deferment. 

High intensity, low frequency (HILF) (14-1; 12:156 da.) A grazing system consisting of 14 pastures, 1 herd, 

a 12-day grazing period, and a 156-day deferment period for each pasture. 

needs include adequate funding for state and tribal 

agencies to implement recovery plans, to conduct 

surveys to determine ongoing population status and 

habitat conditions, and to develop specific parameters 

to measure success of recovery efforts and 

conservation programs. Additional information is also 

needed to better understand the interaction between 

prairie dogs and livestock and how the prairie 

ecosystem can be managed to accommodate both in 

a sustainable manner. 

Conclusion 

Black-tailed prairie dogs affect rangeland habitats by 

influencing plant species diversity and composition and 

creating habitat favored by other rangeland wildlife 

species. Prairie dog activities often increase and 

diversify the composition of grasses and forbs within 

their colonies. Grazing and clipping activities favor 

disturbance-resistant shortgrass prairie grasses and 

forbs. The bare ground around burrows attracts 

invertebrates, which in turn attract some species of 

grassland birds. Prairie dog towns may support a 

higher biomass of small mammals, invertebrates, and 

songbirds than rangeland not inhabited by prairie dogs. 

Some wildlife species rely on habitat conditions 

produced by black-tailed prairie dog activities, and 

the needs of these species should be taken into 

consideration when developing a comprehensive 

management plan for black-tailed prairie dogs. 

8
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) 

Table 4. Programs that provide technical and financial assistance to develop fish and wildlife habitat. 

Program Land eligibility Type of assistance Contact 

Conservation Reserve 

Program 

(CRP) 

Highly erodible land, 

wetland and certain 

other lands with cropping annual rental payments for land enrolled 

history. Stream-side 

areas in pasture land. 

50% cost-share for establishing permanent NRCS or FSA 

cover and conservation practices, and 

in 10- to 15-year contracts. Additional 

financial incentives available for some 

practices. 

state or county 

office 

Environmental Quality Cropland, range, grazing 

Incentives Program 

(EQIP) 

land and other agricultrual practices in accordance with 1- to 10-

land in need of treatment. 

Up to 75% cost-share for conservation 

year contracts. Incentive payments for 

certain management practices. 

NRCS state or 

local office 

Partners for Fish and 

Wildlife Program 

(PFW) 

Most degraded fish and/ 

or wildlife habitat. 

Up to 100% finanical and technical 

assistance to restore wildlife habitat 

under minimum 10-year cooperative 

agreements. 

Local office of 

the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife 

Service 

Waterways for 

Wildlife 

Private lands. Technical and program development 

assistance to coalesce habitat efforts of 

corporations and private landowners to 

meet common wateshed level goals. 

Wildlife Habitat 

Council 

Wildlife at Work Corporate lands. Technical assistance on developing 

habitat projects into programs that allow 

companies to involve employees and the 

community. 

Wildlife Habitat 

Council 

Wildlife Habitat 

Incentives Program 

(WHIP) 

High-priority fish and 

wildlife habitats. 

Up to 75% cost-share for conservation 

practices under 5- to 10-year contracts. 

NRCS state or 

local office 

State fish and wildlife agencies as well as private groups may have additional assistance programs. 

Black-tailed prairie dogs often inhabit areas grazed 

by livestock, so managing their habitat frequently 

involves careful coordination of natural resource 

objectives, stocking rates, and prescribed grazing 

systems. Managers should recognize that in many 

instances, the presence of prairie dogs may involve 

some trade-off in the availability of forage for livestock. 

Successfully managing forage for livestock and habitat 

for prairie dogs involves balancing the needs of all the 

“grazers” that occur on the prairie landscape. 

Landowners can take advantage of technical and 

financial assistance programs to help them meet prairie 

dog habitat needs and livestock production goals in a 

sustainable manner. 

References 

On-line sources 

Black-tailed prairie dog. 2000. Texas Parks & 

Wildlife. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/wild/ 

mammals/prairie.htm. 

Davis, W. B. and D. J. Schmidly. 1994. Mammals of 

Texas: online edition. Texas Parks & Wildlife. http:/ 

/www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1. 

9
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) 

F. L. Knopf 

Other wildlife species such as the mountain plover use habitats subjected to livestock grazing and areas disturbed by 

black-tailed prairie dog clipping and foraging activities. 

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. 2001. 

Prairie dogs. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. http:// 

ngp.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/pdogs.html. 

Remote Sensing Research. 1997. Prairie dogs. http:/ 

/www.rsr.org/prairiedogs.html. 

Sexton, N. R., A. Brinson, P. D. Ponds, K. Cline, and 

B. L. Lamb. 2001. Citizen knowledge and 

perception of black-tailed prairie dog management: 

report to respondents. http://mesc.usgs.gov/pubs/ 

online/pd_represp/contents.html. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie 

Region. 2001. Black tailed prairie dog. http:// 

www.r6.fws.gov/btprairiedog/qanda.htm. 

U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife 

Research Center. 2001. Small mammals of North 

Dakota: black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys 

ludovicianus ). http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/ 

resource/distr/mammals/mammals/prairie.htm. 

Printed sources 

Agnew, W., D. W. Uresk, and R. M. Hansen. 1986. 

Flora and fauna associated with prairie dog 

colonies and adjacent mixed-grass prairie in 

western South Dakota. Journal of Range 

Management 39(2):135-139. 

Baker, B. W., T. R. Stanley, and J. A. Sedgwick. 1999. 

Predation of artificial ground nests on white-tailed 

prairie dog colonies. Journal of Wildlife 

Management 63(1):270-277. 

Bolen, E. G. and W. L. Robinson. 1995. Wildlife 

Ecology and Management, Third edition. Prentice 

Hall. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, USA. 

Bonham, C. D. and A. Lerwick. 1976. Vegetation 

changes induced by prairie dogs on shortgrass 

range. Journal of Range Management 29(3):221-

225. 

Burt, W. H. 1952. A field guide to the mammals of 

North America north of Mexico, third edition. 

Houghton Mifflin Company. New York, New 

York, USA. 

Collins, A. R., J. P. Workman, and D. W. Uresk. 1984. 

An economic analysis of black-tailed prairie dog 

(Cynomys ludovicianus) control. Journal of 

Range Management 37(4):358-361. 

Cull, J. F., Jr. 1993. Plague in prairie dog ecosystems: 

importance for black-footed ferret management. 

In the prairie dog ecosystem, managing for 

biological diversity. Montana BLM Wild. Tech. 

Bull. No. 2. 

Dolbeer, R. A., N. R. Holler, and D. W. Hawthorne. 

1996. Identification and control of wildlife damage. 

Pages 474-506 in Research and Management 

Techniques for Wildlife and Habitats. T.A. 

Bookhout, ed. The Wildlife Society, Bethesda, 

Maryland, USA. 

EDAW, Inc. 2000. Black-tailed prairie dog study of 

eastern Colorado. Colorado Department of 

Natural Resources, Denver, Colorado. USA. 

Gold, I. K. 1976. Effects of blacktail prairie dog 

mounds on shortgrass vegetation. MS Thesis. 

Colorado State University. Fort Collins, 

Colorado, USA. 

Hansen, D. J. 1977. Taxonomic status of the prairie 

dog subspecies Cynomys ludovicianus 

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Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) 

ludovicianus (Ord.) and Cynomys ludovicianus 

arizonensis (Mearns.). M. S. Thesis, Eastern 

New Mexico University. 

Hansen, R. M. and I. K. Gold. 1977. Blacktail prairie 

dogs, desert cottontails and cattle trophic relations 

on shortgrass range. Journal of Range 

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Hyngstrom, S. E. and D. R. Virchow. 1994. Prairie 

dogs in Prevention and Control of Wildlife 

Damage. S. E. Hyngstrom, R. M. Timm, and G. 

E. Larson, eds. University of Nebraska 

Cooperative Extension Service, USDA Plant and 

Animal Health Inspection Service, and Great Plains 

Agricultural Council, USA. 

Knowles, C. J. 1995. A summary of black-tailed 

prairie dog abundance and distribution on the 

central and northern Great Plains. Prepared for 

the Defenders of Wildlife, Missoula, Montana, 

USA. 

Koford, C. B. 1958. Prairie dogs, whitefaces, and 

blue grama. Wildlife Monographs No. 3. 

Kotliar, N. B., B. W. Baker, A. P. Whicker, and G. 

Plumb. 1999. A critical review of assumptions 

about the prairie dog as a keystone species. 

Environmental Management 24(2):177-192. 

Luce, B. 2001. An umbrella, multi-state approach for 

the conservation and management of the blacktailed prairie dog, Cynomys ludovicianus, in the 

United States: an addendum to the black-tailed 

prairie dog conservation assessment and strategy. 

Black-tailed Prairie Dog Conservation Team. 

Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA. 

O’Meilia, M. E., F. L. Knopf, and J. C. Lewis. 1982. 

Some consequences of competition between 

prairie dogs and beef cattle. Journal of Range 

Management 35(5):580-585. 

Payne, N. F. and F. C. Bryant. 1994. Techniques for 

wildlife habitat management of uplands. McGrawHill. New York, New York, USA. 

Snell, G. P., and B. D. Hvalachick. 1980. Control of 

prairie dogs— the easy way. Rangelands 2:239-

240. 

Uresk, D. W., J. G. MacCracken, and A. J. Bjugstad. 

1982. Prairie dog density and cattle grazing 

relationships. Proc. Great Plains Wildlife Damage 

Control Workshop 5:199-201. 

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conservation assessment and strategy. Arizona 

Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, Arizona, 

USA. 

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Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) 

Wildlife Habitat Council 

8737 Colesville Road, Suite 800 

Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 

(301) 588-8994 

The mission of the Wildlife Habitat Council 

is to increase the amount of quality wildlife 

habitat on corporate, private, and public land. 

WHC engages corporations, public agencies, 

and private, non-profit organizations on a 

voluntary basis as one team for the recovery, 

development, and preservation of wildlife 

habitat worldwide. 

www.wildlifehc.org 

Wildlife Habitat Management Institute 

100 Webster Circle, Suite 3 

Madison, Mississippi 39110 

(601) 607-3131 

In cooperation with partners, the mission of 

the Wildlife Habitat Management Institute is 

to develop and disseminate scientifically based 

technical materials that will assist NRCS field 

staffs and others to promote conservation stewardship of fish and wildlife, and deliver sound 

habitat management principles and practices 

to America’s land users. 

www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov 

Primary author: Holly L. May, Wildlife Habitat Council. Drafts reviewed by Bruce Baker, USGS 

Midcontinent Ecological Science Center; Bob Luce, Black-tailed Prairie Dog Conservation Team; Craig 

Knowles, FaunaWest Wildlife Consultants. Edited by Charlie Rewa, NRCS Wildlife Habitat Management 

Institute. 

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