PRAIRIE DOGS

Prairie dogs find safety in numbers. Hundreds of them live together in underground tunnels. When the small animals come to the surface to nibble prairie grasses, they keep a close watch for enemies, such as eagles, coyotes, or black-footed ferrets. When one member spots a predator, it gives an alarm call and the whole colony ducks back into their tunnels. If one member is captured, the group will attack and drive the predator away. For prairie dogs, large colonies keep them safe.