Prairie dog (Cynomys ludoviciansus)

The Definitive Guide to Prairie dog Control and Where to Find a
Wildlife Control Professional!

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Identification

The scientific name for the black-tailed prairie dog "ludovicianus," is the Latin form of Ludwig or Louis, relating back to the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804-1806, when prairie dogs were first collected for science. 

The prairie dog is a burrowing member of the order Rodentia, the largest group of mammals in the world. An adult black-tailed prairie dog is between 12 and 16 inches long and generally weighs between 1.5 and 2.5 pounds. Its tail is covered with hair and is about one-fourth of the animal's total length. Its body is tan to pale brown in color, its under parts are white to buffy white, and its tail is tipped with black. The prairie dog's legs are short, but its feet are large and have well-developed claws, especially on the forefeet. Its head is broad and rounded, and its eyes are fairly large.

Range

The black-tailed prairie dog is one of five species of prairie dogs found in North America. It is the most abundant and widely distributed species. It is found throughout the Great Plains from southern Canada to just inside Mexico. The western edge of its range is along the Rocky Mountains, and the eastern edge follows the natural boundary between tall and mid-grass prairie. In Nebraska, prairie dogs are found roughly in the western two-thirds of the state. 

Mexican prairie dogs live in flat areas (valleys and prairies) from 1600 to 2200 meters in elevation. They favor deep soils that are free from rocks and covered with herbs and grasses. This species of prairie dog has a fairly limited distribution; it is found only within parts of Mexico.

Gunnison's prairie dogs are limited to the high mountain valleys and plateaus in the southern Rocky Mountains, and it is found at elevations of 1,830 to 3,660 m. Its distribution centers around the Four Corners region where the states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet. The northernmost population of C. gunnisoni is found in South Park, CO, while the southernmost population resides near the Mogollon Mountains in southwestern New Mexico

White-tailed prairie dog colonies are found in Wyoming, northwest Colorado, northeastern Utah, and south central Montana. They once occurred more widely, but eradication efforts have shrunk their range. White-tailed prairie dogs thrive in dry, high altitude areas. This prairie dogs is normally found anywhere from 5000 to 10,000 ft above sea level. They usually occupy areas that are higher in elevation than other prairie dog species, such as black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). Their habitat is dry, desert grasslands and shrub lands. Sage is especially important as a form of cover. 

Utah prairie dog - North America - Southwest area of Utah. There are three main concentrations of colonies: Awapa Plateau, East Fork and the main stem of the Sevier River and eastern Iron County.

Certain soil and vegetation characteristics must be met in order for Utah prairie dogs to establish a colony in a particular prairie. The area must be well-drained and have soil deep enough for protection against predators and for insulation during the winter. Cynomys parvidens must be able to dig one meter deep without getting wet. The vegetation must be low enough to allow the prairie dogs to scan the environment for predators. 

Damage Caused by Prairie dogs

The prairie dog can become a serious pest on grazing and cultivated lands. They compete with livestock for range forage, frequently near stock water dams or watering holes. In addition to the forage they consume, large amounts of vegetation may be clipped and removed so that the prairie dogs can more readily observe any approaching predators. Prairie dogs in or near grain fields will consume and clip substantial amounts of the grain. Combined overgrazing by prairie dogs and livestock can cause serious erosion and watershed problems. In times of drought, further damage can occur to root systems of plants as evidenced by pock-marked diggings by prairie dogs. The reduction or removal of desirable plant species allows an increase in undesirable plants such as cactus.

Control Methods

An integrated pest management approach dictates the timely use of a variety of cost-effective management options to reduce prairie dog damage to a tolerable level.