any of a genus (Cynomys, family Sciuridae) of small, burrowing rodents of North America, having a barking cry and living in colonies
See prairie dog in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Any of several burrowing rodents of the genus Cynomys in the squirrel family, having light brown fur and a warning call that sounds similar to a dog's bark. The prairie dog lives in large colonies, chiefly in the Great Plains of North America.