Photo by Al Henry

Scientific Name: Cynomys ludovicianus

The largest prairie dog town ever recorded stretched for 25,096 square miles under the Texas prairie. Nearly 400 million prairie dogs lived in this town.

• Size: Weight: Average 3 pounds; Height: Average 16.5 inches
• Diet: Leaves, stems, the occasional insect and the roots of grasses and weeds
• Habitat: Dry, flat or gently sloping, open grasslands with low, relatively sparse vegetation
• Range in the Wild: Extreme South Central Canada, through the United States and into Northeastern Mexico

Conservation Status

Listed as Least Concern. They are widespread with an estimated population to be in the millions.

Learn more about this animal.