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Photo by Ron Stewart
Photo Copyright Ron Stewart
White-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys leucurus
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G4
State (S-rank): S4
External links
Species range
White-tailed prairie dogs occur in grasslands and shrublands, in basins and mountain valleys in four western states. Wyoming has the largest percentage of the species’ range (62% of the total) followed by Colorado (21%) and Utah (16%). This prairie dog also inhabits a small area of Montana. In Utah, white-tailed prairie dogs inhabit the eastern and northeastern counties.
Habitat
Tthe species occurs in arid flats that are sparsely vegetated with low shrubs and grasses.
Ecology
White-tailed prairie dogs generally prefer flat terrain (<30% slope) with deep, well-drained soil to build burrows. Burrows need to be deep enough for prairie dogs to build hibernacula to survive cold winter months. White-tailed prairie dogs eat grasses and forbs, and prefer vegetation types that are open and short. Shrub species associated with prairie dog habitat include fourwing saltbush, shadscale, sagebrush, and greasewood. Where shrubs occur in the colonies, they are generally short and sparse to allow for visual surveillance for predator avoidance and intra-specific social interaction.
Threats or limiting factors
Sylvatic plague is the single most important limiting factor for white-tailed prairie dog. During epizootic events, 85 – 96% of prairie dogs in the affected colonies can die from the disease. The infection rate among white-tailed prairie dogs can be slightly lower than in other prairie dog species, because of this species’ lower social interactions and more dispersed colonies. White-tailed prairie dogs evolved with periodic drought conditions so impacts are generally low. However, cumulative impacts of drought and other factors (exotic annual grasses and forbs) can affect prairie dog populations.
