Mammals
Utah Prairie Dog
Cynomys parvidens · also called Utah prairie-dog
On a high meadow in southwestern Utah, a Utah prairie dog sits upright at a burrow mouth and barks a warning, the only part of the world where this small town-dwelling rodent lives.
Overview
The Utah prairie dog, Cynomys parvidens, is an Endangered rodent found only in a limited area of southwestern Utah. It is the smallest of the five prairie dogs and, unlike its black-tailed cousin, spends the winter hibernating.
A species at its edge
Because the Utah prairie dog lives nowhere else, any threat to its small home range, whether plague or development, falls on the whole species.
Status
Endangered, restricted to a small part of southwestern Utah.
Utah Prairie Dog: common questions
Where does the Utah prairie dog live?
It lives only in a limited area of southwestern Utah.
Why is the Utah prairie dog at risk?
It has been reduced by plague, habitat loss to farming and development, and past poisoning.
Does the Utah prairie dog hibernate?
Yes, it spends the coldest months hibernating, unlike the black-tailed prairie dog, which usually remains active in winter.
How is it different from the black-tailed prairie dog?
It is the smallest of the five prairie dog species and hibernates in winter.