Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Black-Tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae

Listing Status:   

General Information

Prairie dogs are small, stout ground squirrels. The total length of an adult black-tailed prairie dog is approximately 14-17 inches. The weight of an individual ranges from 1 to 3 pounds. Individual appearances within the species vary in mixed colors of brown, black, gray, and white. The black-tipped tail is characteristic (Hoogland 1995). Black-tailed prairie dogs are diurnal, burrowing animals. They do not hibernate as do white-tailed, Gunnison, and Utah prairie dogs (Hoogland 1995, Tileston and Lechleitner 1966). The black-footed ferret, swift fox , mountain plover, ferruginous hawk, burrowing owl , and number other species are dependent upon prairie dogs to varying degrees.

Map of Species occurrence

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Map Image Map of Species occurrence Map of Species occurrence

This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)



Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6)

» Candidate Information

Candidate Notice of Review Documents (Showing 4 of 4)
Date Citation Page Title
05/11/2005 70 FR 24870 24934 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
05/04/2004 69 FR 24876 24904 Review of Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
06/13/2002 67 FR 40657 40679 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Recycled Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
10/30/2001 66 FR 54808 54832 ETWP; Review of Plant and Animal Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened,Annual Notice of Findings on Recycled Petitions, and Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 14: view all)
Date Citation Page Title
12/03/2009 74 FR 63343 63366 12-Month Finding on a Petition to List the Black-tailed Prairie Dog as Threatened or Endangered
12/02/2008 73 FR 73211 73219 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the Black-tailed Prairie Dog as Threatened or Endangered
05/11/2005 70 FR 24870 24934 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
08/18/2004 69 FR 51217 51226 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Finding for the Resbumitted Petition to List the Black-tailed Praire Dog as Threatened
08/18/2004 69 FR 51217 51226 Finding for the Resubmitted Petition To List the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog as Threatened

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search

No recovery information is available for the Black-Tailed prairie dog.

» Critical Habitat

No critical habitat rules have been published for the Black-Tailed prairie dog.

» Conservation Plans

Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1)
HCP Plan Summaries
Malpai Borderlands
Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAA): (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1)
CCAA Plan Summaries
4W Ranch, Harshbarger

» Petitions

Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 4 of 4)
Date Citation Page Title Finding
12/03/2009 74 FR 63343 63366 12-Month Finding on a Petition to List the Black-tailed Prairie Dog as Threatened or Endangered
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Not warranted
    • 12/02/2008 73 FR 73211 73219 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the Black-tailed Prairie Dog as Threatened or Endangered
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial
    • 02/04/2000 65 FR 5476 5488 12-Month Finding for a Petition To List the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog as Threatened
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted but precluded
    • 03/25/1999 64 FR 14424 14428 ETWP; 90-day Finding for a Petition To List the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog as Threatened
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: June 20, 2013