Their lifespan is typically 4-5 years in the wild. Prairie dogs have a complex social structure. Each coterie has up to 20 members. Underground tunnels connect to special-use rooms such as bedrooms, nurseries and latrine. These tunnels are used for shelter by many other prairie wildlife species, including burrowing owls, black-footed ferrets, rabbits, badgers, insects, snakes and toads.
Prairie dogs have a sophisticated form of communication.
Humans have been able to identify up to 11 different calls. They also use physical contact, such as nuzzling and kissing as well as vocalization, such as barking a warning, to communicate. Members of a prairie dog town take turns keeping watch. Prairie dogs improve the neighborhood. As the black-tailed prairie dog is a keystone species , its activities increase both plant and animal diversity.