Mammals diurnal

Black-tailed Prairie Dog

Cynomys ludovicianus

The spirited architects of the Great Plains, Black-tailed Prairie Dogs are social icons known for their complex 'towns' and vocal personalities. Watch closely and you'll discover a world of family bonds and watchful community protection right in the backyard.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 35–43 cm (14–17 in); Weight: 0.7–1.5 kg (1.5–3.3 lbs)

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Colors

Sandy-tan to reddish-brown upper fur with a cream-colored underside; distinctive black tip on the end of the tail

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Key Features

Distinctive black-tipped tail
Small, rounded ears set low on the head
Stocky, low-slung body with short legs
Short, powerful claws for digging
Large, dark eyes positioned for 360-degree surveillance

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 7-11 AM and 3-7 PM

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Season Year-round, with peak visibility in late spring when pups emerge from burrows

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Diet Primarily herbivorous, they graze on various grasses, sedges, and forbs. They also eat roots and seeds, and will occasionally supplement their diet with insects like grasshoppers when available.

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Habitat Open, flat grasslands and short-grass prairies. They are increasingly found in suburban vacant lots, parks, and schoolyards where the grass is kept short.

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Behavior

Black-tailed Prairie Dogs are among the most social mammals in North America, living in massive underground colonies known as 'towns.' These towns are divided into smaller family groups called coteries, typically consisting of one male, several females, and their offspring. They are famous for their sophisticated communication system, which includes a wide variety of vocalizations to identify specific predators and a signature 'jump-yip'—a social display where the animal stands on its hind legs, stretches its nose to the sky, and lets out a high-pitched bark.

Unlike many other prairie dog species, the Black-tailed variety does not truly hibernate. While they may stay underground during extreme cold snaps or heavy snow, they are frequently seen above ground during the winter months on sunny days. They spend a significant portion of their day 'manicuring' their habitat, clipping tall grasses around their burrow entrances to ensure they have an unobstructed view of incoming threats like hawks, coyotes, or ferrets.

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Camera Tips

To capture high-quality footage of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs, location is everything. Look for active 'mounds'—the volcano-shaped dirt piles that serve as burrow entrances. Place your camera roughly 5 to 10 feet away from a well-maintained mound, as these are the ones currently in use. Because these animals are low to the ground, you must mount your camera extremely low. Using a ground-stake mount or a small tripod just 6-12 inches off the ground provides an intimate, eye-level perspective that makes for much more engaging photos than looking down from a high fence post.

Because Black-tailed Prairie Dogs are incredibly fast and prone to sudden movements, set your camera to a high trigger speed (0.2 seconds or faster) and use 'Burst Mode' to capture a sequence of 3-5 photos. This increases your chances of catching the iconic 'jump-yip' or a social grooming session. If your camera supports it, high-definition video is actually preferred for this species; their complex social interactions and vocalizations are much better captured in 20-30 second clips than in still frames.

Lighting is a major factor on the open prairie. To avoid 'blowout' (where the sun overexposes the sandy fur), try to position your camera facing North or South so the sun is to the side of the lens during the morning and evening peak activity hours. If you are setting up in a backyard or garden area, you don't need bait—simply keeping a patch of grass very short will naturally attract them to that specific spot for foraging, providing you with a clear, unobstructed 'stage' for your camera.

In the winter, don't pack your gear away. Keep your cameras active on sunny days following a snowstorm. The contrast of their tan fur against white snow is visually stunning, and you'll often see them sunbathing on the tops of their mounds to warm up. Just ensure your batteries are rated for cold weather, as the prairie wind can drain standard alkaline batteries quickly.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Black-tailed Prairie Dog.

White-tailed Prairie Dog

Found at higher elevations, it has a white-tipped tail and hibernates through the winter.

Richardson's Ground Squirrel

Smaller in size with a slimmer tail and lacks the distinctive black tip; they also hibernate for much of the year.

Gunnison's Prairie Dog

Has a shorter, gray-tipped tail and is typically found in the Four Corners region at higher altitudes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Black-tailed Prairie Dogs are strictly diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They are most visible in the mid-morning and late afternoon when temperatures are moderate. During the hottest part of summer days, they may retreat underground to their cooler burrows.

If you live within their natural range, the best way to attract them is to provide a large, open area with very short vegetation. They avoid tall grass because it hides predators. They are also attracted to sources of fresh water and native prairie grasses like buffalo grass.

Their diet is almost entirely plant-based, consisting of native grasses, weeds, and occasionally roots. In suburban areas, they may eat various garden greens, but they primarily focus on clipping and eating the grasses immediately surrounding their burrow mounds.

Yes, they are highly adaptable and often colonize vacant lots, golf courses, and suburban parks throughout the Western United States. Because they prefer short-grass environments, human-maintained landscapes can often provide ideal habitat for them.

The easiest way is the tail: Black-tailed Prairie Dogs have a distinct black tip on their tail, whereas Richardson's Ground Squirrels have a tail that is uniform in color or has a white fringe. Prairie dogs are also significantly larger and more social.

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