The Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), is found in the Great Plains of North America from about the USA-Canada border to the USA-Mexico border.

Black-tailed Prairie Dogs are generally tan in color, with a lighter colored belly. Their tail has a black tip on it, which is where their name is derived from. Adults can weigh from 1.5 to 3 lb, males are typically heavier than females. Body length is normally from 11 to 13 inches, with a 3 to 4 inch tail. They have small ears, but keen hearing, and small, dark eyes, with good vision.

Unlike some other prairie dogs, these animals do not truly hibernate. The Black-tailed Prairie Dog can be seen above ground in midwinter.

There is a report of a Black-tailed Prairie Dog town in Texas that covered 64,000 sq km (25,000 sq mi) and included 400,000,000 individuals. Prior to habitat destruction, this species was probably the most abundant prairie dog in central North America.

Black-tailed Prairie Dogs are frequently exterminated from ranchland, being labelled as a pest. Their habitat has been fragmented, and their numbers have been greatly reduced. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service determined that they were a species that warranted a recovery plan and protection as an endangered species, but there are currently no plans to do so.

More Information:

Texas Parks and Wildlife's Texas Black-tailed Prairie Dog Watch