# Gunnison's Prairie Dog (*Cynomys gunnisoni*) Gunnison's prairie dogs are small, social animals that live in big families called colonies. They dig tunnels in the ground and love to play and chatter with each other! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Gunnison's Prairie Dog](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gunnison's_prairie_dog%252C_sitting_up.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gunnison's_prairie_dog%252C_sitting_up.jpg) ## Appearance The Gunnison's Prairie Dog is a small, sturdy rodent with yellowish-tan to cinnamon-brown fur, lighter on its belly. It has small ears and a short tail tipped in white, which helps distinguish it from other prairie dog species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae - **Genus:** Cynomys ## Interesting facts - Baby prairie dogs, called pups, are born blind and helpless underground! - Their underground 'towns' can have hundreds of interconnected burrows! - They often use a special 'jump-yip' call to show they are feeling safe! - They stand tall on their hind legs like tiny sentinels to scout for danger! ## Special abilities - **Underground Engineer:** Gunnison's Prairie Dog can dig extensive burrow systems because of its strong claws, providing shelter from predators and weather. - **Social Communicator:** Gunnison's Prairie Dog can "kiss" each other using cheek glands that helps them identify individuals and strengthen colony bonds. - **Winter Sleeper:** Gunnison's Prairie Dog can enter torpor during cold months because it helps them conserve energy when food is scarce. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-38 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-5 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-8 - **Gestation:** 30-31 days ## Diet & Feeding This little rodent munches on fresh grasses, seeds, and flowers to stay healthy and strong! - **Primary Foods:** grasses, forbs, seeds, roots, cacti, insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — A common predator in their habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Hunts them from the sky. - **Eats:** [Black-footed Ferret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-footed-ferret) (*Mustela nigripes*) — This endangered ferret relies heavily on them for food. - **Shelter:** [Burrowing Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/burrowing-owl) (*Athene cunicularia*) — Often uses their abandoned burrows for nests. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and don't disturb their homes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Gunnison's Prairie Dog? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Gunnison's Prairie Dog? 30-38 cm ### How much does Gunnison's Prairie Dog weigh? 0.5-1.5 kg ### How long does Gunnison's Prairie Dog live? 3-5 years ### How fast can Gunnison's Prairie Dog move? 55 km/h ### What does Gunnison's Prairie Dog eat? This little rodent munches on fresh grasses, seeds, and flowers to stay healthy and strong! ### Where is Gunnison's Prairie Dog usually found? Grasslands ### How does Gunnison's Prairie Dog hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/navajo-nation-zoological-and-botanical-park) — Arizona, US · Zoo - [E. Martin Hennings House and Studio Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/e-martin-hennings-house-and-studio-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Taos Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/taos-downtown-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District [View all places to see Gunnison's Prairie Dog](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/gunnisons-prairie-dog) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Gunnison's Prairie Dog: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gunnisons-prairie-dog)