The Utah Prairie Dog is the smallest of all Prairie Dogs.

In the wild the Utah Prairie Dog is largely herbivorous, though it will occasionally eat insects as well. Generally adults will eat seeds and flowers, as well as green grasses and forbes. Interestingly young individuals seem to prefer cattle feces and dead vegetation. The average mature Utah Prairie Dog will eat two pounds a week! They live in complex burrows and are social animals that form colonies. Soil must be well drained, but must not contain water within a foot of digging to be suitable for a burrow location. The Utah Prairie Dog is seen most often in the daytime when it is most active. This species does hibernate, with males hibernating before females. Like some other prairie dogs, the Utah Prairie Dog sheds twice a year. It is not uncommon to see Utah Prairie Dogs sitting up and observing their surroundings. This behavior helps protect them against potential predators. If a predator is seen, they will warn others with a series of noises. The vocalizations of these Prairie Dogs is often referred to as "barking". Sometimes observers will note two Utah Prairie Dogs "kissing each other". This kissing behavior is actually a touching of teeth which allows members of the same coterie, or group, to recognize each other. As males mature they will often move to new coteries, females will often stay in the same group for their entire lives. This may account for the female's longer average life span, of eight years, compared to the male, who usually will only live five years in the wild.

The diminutive Utah Prairie Dog has a brownish cinnamon body with a near white tail. Their bellies tend to be brighter colored than the rest of their bodies. In addition to the white coloring on their tails the Utah Prairie Dog also has a white chin and upper lip. They have large expressive eyes, marked by dark spots above and below them. The average mature Utah Prairie Dog measures a mere 30.5 to 36 centimeters in length and weighs approximately a half of a pound to two pounds.

The Utah Prairie Dog is native to the American State after which it is named. Sadly the Utah Prairie Dog populations have been diminished in the wild. Their status ranges between endangered and threatened. The original decline in population was the result of many factors including draught, disease, habitat destruction, and poisoning. Conservation efforts have been successful and are helping these beautiful animals to regain their past populations.

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The average Utah Prairie Dog reaches sexual maturity by approximately one year of age. The breeding season typically is in the early spring, and female Utah Prairie Dogs tend to give birth to a litter of three to four babies in April, after a 30 to 35 day gestation period.