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Cynomys ludovicianus

(Ord, 1815)

Black-tailed Prairie Dog

G4Apparently Secure Found in 17 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100941
Element CodeAMAFB06010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilySciuridae
GenusCynomys
Other Common Names
black-tailed prairie dog (EN) Chien de prairie (FR) Chien de prairie à queue noire (FR)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Taxonomic Comments
Hall (1981) listed two subspecies of black-tailed prairie dog, the nominate form and the Arizona prairie dog (C. ludovicianus arizonensis). Genetic study suggests that the Arizona form does not qualify for subspecies status (Chesser 1979). Hoffmeister (1986) regarded the species as monotypic. Thorington and Hoffmann (in Wilson and Reeder 2005) nevertheless recognized two subspecies (arizonensis and ludovicianus). Some question still exists about the possible subspecific status of certain populations, especially that in the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico (Hubbard 1992).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-12
Change Date2006-03-08
Edition Date2024-08-12
Edition AuthorsK. Hunting (2024)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
This species still occupies a relatively large range in the Plain’s region of central North America, is represented by many occurrences, and an overall comparably large population. Historical habitat losses will never be replaced but this species appears to be sustaining viable populations in many areas although losses continue in some parts of its range. Threats to this species are managed in most areas and though still exerting pressure on some populations, appear to be below population-level effects as evidenced by population stability and increased occupied range in recent years.
Range Extent Comments
In Canada, this species is limited to the Frenchman River Valley in southeastern Saskatchewan. In the U.S, this species occurs in the midwestern states from eastern and central Montana (Montana Prairie Dog Working Group 2002) and western North Dakota south through eastern Wyoming, eastern Colorado, western and central South Dakota, most of Kansas and western Oklahoma, eastern New Mexico, and western and central Texas (Schmidly and Bradley 2016). This species was extirpated from Arizona by the 1960’s and has since been re-introduced to native and restored habitat in the southeast corner of the state (Arizona Wildlife Conservation Strategy 2015). In Mexico, as of 1993 this species occupied about entirely within the state of Chihuahua (Ceballos et al. 1993). The range extent of this species was estimated by prescribing a concave hull polygon around recent observations to arrive at a range extent of about 2,560,000 km2.
Occurrences Comments
The number of occurrences of this species is unknown but represented by a very large number of occurrences or subpopulations.
Threat Impact Comments
The primary threats to this species are habitat loss and fragmentation resulting from conversion of prairie grasslands to agricultural uses including grazing and annual crops and urban development (Luce et al 2003, Parks Canada Agency 2021, Ceballos et al 1993) although range-wide loss to urban uses appears to be limited to about 2% of the current range (USFWS 2009). Historical losses of habitat to agricultural were substantial but have slowed occurring at varying rates in some parts of this species range. Displacement of colonies and loss of habitat through development and operation of energy projects (Oil and Gas, Wind) may be a local factor in some parts of this species range but energy facilities may also serve to increase occupancy (USFWS 2009). Persecution for management of injury risk to livestock and competition for forage is likely now a local threat or impact although populations of this species apparently recover from control efforts rapidly (USFWS 2009). Disease outbreaks were a recent threat to this species. Sylvatic plaque, a highly infectious bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis to which prairie dogs are particularly susceptible and which can be manifested in 90% colony mortality, reduced populations in some parts of its range. USFWS (2009) concluded threats from this disease remain and could be exacerbated in the future by the effects of climate change, but this threat has not resulted in recent population declines.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Largest of all CYNOMYS species; 700-1500 g; 28-33 cm from nose tip to rear end (Burt and Grossenheider 1976, Hoogland and Foltz 1982); limbs, tail (7-10 cm), and ears are relatively small, with body and tail pelage generally dark cinnamon on the back and upper sides but buff colored on underside (Burt and Grossenheider 1976, Anderson 1977, Hall 1981); distal third of tail is black or dark brown (Hall 1981). Molt twice per year, prior to summer and prior to winter. Skull is about 60 cm long, with 22 teeth (Burt and Grossenheider 1976).

Habitat

The habitat of this species consists of dry, flat or gently sloping, open grasslands with low, relatively sparse vegetation, including areas overgrazed by cattle. The species occurs in open vacant lots at town edges in some areas. Habitat types represented by this species include all major grassland types--short (Bonham and Lerwick 1976), mixed (Coppock et al. 1983), and tall (Osborn 1942) and it is apparently most abundant and an important community member in the Mixed Grass Prairie and Short Grass Plains associations (Carpenter 1940, in Osborn 1942). By colonizing areas with low vegetative stature, this species often selects areas with past human (as well as other) disturbance. In North Dakota and Montana, colonies tended to be associated with areas heavily used by cattle, such as water tanks and long-term supplemental feeding sites (Licht and Sanchez 1993).

Reproduction

Breeding system is harem-polygynous, with most females copulating with one male and males with several females (Hoogland and Foltz 1982). Females achieve estrous as early as the second week in March in Montana (Knowles 1987), March 1 in Colorado (Koford 1958), and the third week in January in Oklahoma (Anthony and Foreman 1951 in Koford 1958). Females are in estrous for several hours of only one day per year (Hoogland and Foltz 1982). Gestation averages 35 days (Hoogland 1985, Knowles 1987). Though almost all adult females achieve estrous and many become pregnant, juvenile mortality is high with only one half of copulating females weaning a litter (Hoogland and Foltz 1982). Minimum breeding age usually is two years for both sexes (Hoogland 1985, Knowles 1987). In Montana, most yearlings do not breed, but incidence of breeding among yearlings may reflect food abundance rather than age.

Litter size typically averages about 4 (Knowles 1987) (3 in yearlings, 5 in older females) (Koford 1958). Vegetation condition does not necessarily affect litter size, with adults producing an average litter size of 4.3 on "fair" rangeland and 5.7 on "severely depleted" rangeland (Koford 1958), but relatively large and small littes may follow high and low rainfall, respectively. Individual females produce one litter per year.

Pups stay underground until weaned (Hoogland 1985). Pups appear above ground in about 5-8 weeks (mid-May to early June in Montana). In the field, Hoogland (1985) found that the pups are weaned (and first emerge from burrows) at about 43 days. In the laboratory, weaning occurs at about 60 days (Johnson 1927). Due to forage availability and stress associated with crowding, the number of weaned juveniles increases as the number of adults and yearlings decreases, and vice-versa (Hoogland et al. 1987).
Terrestrial Habitats
SavannaGrassland/herbaceousDesertCropland/hedgerow
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
South DakotaS4Yes
WyomingS2Yes
North DakotaSUYes
ColoradoS3Yes
MontanaS3Yes
ArizonaSX,S1Yes
NebraskaS3Yes
OklahomaS3Yes
KansasS3Yes
New MexicoS2Yes
TexasS3Yes
CanadaN2
ProvinceRankNative
AlbertaSNANo
SaskatchewanS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber cropsLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
3 - Energy production & miningRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
3.1 - Oil & gas drillingRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
3.3 - Renewable energyRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useRestricted (11-30%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animalsRestricted (11-30%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
5.1.3 - Persecution/controlRestricted (11-30%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (17)
Arizona (2)
AreaForestAcres
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
Montana (6)
AreaForestAcres
Big LogHelena National Forest8,954
Cayuse MountainHelena National Forest20,146
HolterHelena National Forest1,965
Irish GulchHelena National Forest7,321
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
North Dakota (8)
AreaForestAcres
BlacktailDakota Prairie Grasslands8,620
Collar / Bennett - CottonwoodDakota Prairie Grasslands19,697
Dawsons WaterholeDakota Prairie Grasslands6,087
Long X DivideDakota Prairie Grasslands10,099
MagpieDakota Prairie Grasslands21,281
Tracy MountainDakota Prairie Grasslands9,756
Twin ButtesDakota Prairie Grasslands13,492
WannaganDakota Prairie Grasslands6,026
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
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