Three species of prairie dogs are found in Colorado. Prairie dogs and their burrows serve as important hosts for numerous other animals. Prairie dogs can damage rangeland and occasionally carry plague. Control problem prairie dogs by relocation, visual barriers, shooting, poison grain bait, and fumigation. Three species of prairie dogs in Colorado occupy an estimated 2 million acres of rangeland.
Prairie dogs have reddish fur, large eyes, short ears and broad round heads.
Biology and Social Organization Prairie dogs form colonies commonly referred to as prairie dog towns. Small groups, generally composed of one adult male, three adult females and six offspring, defend their territory within the larger town. A density of 35 black-tailed prairie dog mounds per acre is common, although up to 95 mounds have been reported. Burrow systems have one to three entrances. Black-tailed prairie dog numbers vary from about five per acre in late winter to 20 per acre after the birth of pups in spring.