Prairie marmot, also known as the Richardson ground squirrel, is a small rodent that belongs to the squirrel family. This cute little creature has a number of synonyms as well, such as gopher, rock chuck, yellow-bellied marmot, and flickertail. The term "gopher" is commonly used in many regions of North America, while the name "rock chuck" refers to the marmot's habitat in rocky terrain. The yellow-bellied marmot gets its name from the yellow color of its underparts, while the flickertail name comes from the way the marmot flicks its tail when it is excited or alarmed. Regardless of what we call them, prairie marmots play an important role in the ecosystem and are fascinating creatures to observe.