Prairie Dog

This is the much maligned prairie dog. They are actually becoming rare because of the constant eradication efforts of the ranchers and farmers across America. Quoting from Wikipedia on the animals:

Ecologists consider this rodent to be a keystone species. They are an important prey species, being the primary diet in prairie species such as the Black-footed Ferret, Swift Fox, Golden Eagle, American Badger, and Ferruginous Hawk. Other species, such as the Mountain Plover and the Burrowing Owl, also rely on prairie dog burrows for nesting areas. Even grazing species such as Plains Bison, Pronghorn, and Mule deer have shown a proclivity for grazing on the same land used by prairie dogs.

 They are rather pretty little animals.