Gunnison's Prairie Dog

Cynomys gunnisoni

Gunnison's prairie dog, Cynomys gunnisoni, is a burrowing ground squirrel of the high desert grasslands and open valleys of the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. It is smaller and shorter-tailed than the familiar black-tailed prairie dog, with pale buff-gray fur and a whitish tail tip. Colonies, often called towns, are made up of family groups that maintain burrow systems, post lookouts, and use sharp alarm calls when raptors, coyotes, foxes, or people approach. Unlike some prairie dogs, populations in colder mountain basins may spend part of winter in torpor or hibernation.

This species is usually encountered through wildlife management, field research, and zoo education rather than private ownership. Prairie dog colonies can conflict with grazing, crops, and development, yet their burrows and grazing patterns create habitat used by many grassland animals. Plague, poisoning, shooting, and habitat conversion have caused local declines, so surveys and relocation decisions are handled carefully by agencies and conservation groups. In managed care, Gunnison's prairie dogs need social grouping, deep diggable substrate or artificial burrows, secure barriers below ground level, and a high-fiber diet based on grasses and hay. Handling is limited, partly because bites are serious and wild rodents can carry diseases.