Black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus). feeding. This rodent is indigenous to the great plains of North America. It was once one of the most abundant species of prairie dog though its numbers have declined dramatically due to habitat destruction. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service have set out a recovery plan and warranted an endangered species label, though this has not yet been implemented. Black-tailed prairie dogs were collected from the wild for the exotic pet trade until this was banned in 2003. However, it is still persecuted as a pest.