Gunnison's prairie dog
Photo Copyright Mark Chapman
Cynomys gunnisoni
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G3?
State (S-rank): S3
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
Species range
Gunnison’s prairie dogs are distributed across the Four Corners region, including Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. In Utah, this species is found in Grand and San Juan Counties.
Habitat
This species occurs in sparsely vegetated, arid flats, particularly in areas dominated by short grasses. Specific information regarding the habitat requirements in Utah have not been published.
Ecology
Gunnison’s prairie dogs prefer desert grasslands and high desert scrub. Vegetation commonly found across these habitats includes perennial and annual grasses, forbs, and shrubs such as sagebrush, greasewood, rabbitbrush, snakeweed, etc. (Lupis et al. 2007). Typically herbivores, Gunnison’s prairie dogs primarily consume grasses, herbs, and seeds (Lupis et al. 2007).
Threats or limiting factors
A major threat to prairie dogs is the plague, a disease transmitted by fleas, which can eradicate entire colonies. Additionally, habitat loss due to agriculture and development (residential, energy, and mining) threatens this species. Populations also tend to decrease in drought years.