THE PRAIRIE DOG ALWAYS ON THE ALERTThe prairie dog sits up at the entrance of its burrow watching all that goes on around it. There is a mound (small hill) of earth at the entrance of the burrow to keep out water and to give the prairie dog a good viewpoint so it can spot any danger. The prairie dog gives out a warning yelp or bark. They also signal with their tails. A flick of the tail means danger.
Dr. Lloyd Glenn Ingles © 2001 California Academy of Sciences PRAIRIE DOGS TALK TO EACH OTHERPrairie dogs nuzzle and kiss when they meet. But if prairie dogs from different colonies meet they stare, chatter, flick their tails and may fight or chase each other.Black-tailed prairie dogs have about 11 calls. When danger is near they alert other members of the colony by making a loud yelp or bark. Sometimes a prairie dog will stand on its hind legs, stretch up and throw its front feet high into the air. At the same time , it gives a loud call ( a yelp, cry or yip ). When all the prairie dogs are jump-yipping it looks like they are doing a wild dance. Some people believe that this is one way that they defend their territories or it may be a signal that a predator has left .
 Dr. Lloyd Glenn Ingles © 2001 California Academy of Sciences |
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2003