Prairie Dogs!

[chicken]

Click on images to view bigger versions:

They were just hangin' out in a "managed" Prairie Dog sanctuary, which really didn't seem managed -- there were no park ranger-type people, and the little critters were free to roam around on the bike path and park right next to their little acreage, and in fact probably could've run right out into the oncoming traffic on the road next to it (but they didn't). This is just down the street from my mom's house in Fort Collins.





movie clip: Prairie Dog 'calling' (1.4 MB Quicktime Movie, 320x240) -- right-click or Ctrl-Click (one-mouse systems) to save and view. Do NOT try to stream it in your web browser, or it might be kind of slow. Also, note that if you amp up your volume all the way, you can hear the piercing 'chirp' call that the prairie dog makes after it rears up on its hind legs. I believe this is how they communicate across the prairie, from one burrow to the next.

Comments

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

No kidding, they are adorable -- although they are remarkably camoflage-y. We had to bring out the video camera and then take screencaps, because it is impossible to get a good shot of one of them with a cell phone camera -- they just 'blend' too well.