somewhat protected.
Cynomys gunnisoni gunnisoni- Gunnison prairie dog.  Range; Mountains of central and central-

southern Colorado.  Almost extinct.
Cynomys gunnisoni zuniensis- Zuni prairie dog.  Range:  Along the contiguous borders of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.  Almost extinct.

Gestation:  30 days   Mating season:  late winter  Birth:  Early March
Birth weight:  15.5g, (1/2 oz.)  Birth size:  69mm, (2.75 in.)           Eyes open:  33/37 dys
Squeak:  16 days    Furred:  3 weeks             Crawl:  4 wks
Walk:  37 days    Appear at den entrance:  6 wks        Nurse:  to 7 wks
Life expectancy:  8/10 years  Average litter:  5 (2-10)              One litter/ yr.
Molt:  Spring-head to tail, Fall- tail to head, tail molts once in summer
Forage:  250 prairie dogs consume as much grass per day as one 1000 lb. cow.

Burrows:  Most descend at a steep angle down to 8 to 12 feet.  Diameter is 4 1/2 to 5 in.; includes a den just below the surface which serves as a landing used as a lookout point before emerging.  Much deeper dens are used as toilets, sleeping chambers, birthing and nursing rooms, etc.  A large colony will excavate approximately 4 tons per acre.  Their activity changes the soil from silt to loam.

Diurnal:  They spend 100% of night time below ground.  Approximately 50% of daylight is spent above ground.  They appear to come up and go down in shifts, with only 50% of the colony above ground at a time.

Sounds:  Their "bark" has numerous and distinct sounds.  Some to warn of danger; some a greeting; some a good-by, and some just for joy.