Quick Take
- Despite their name, prairie dogs aren't actually dogs, and knowing their true identity changes how you see their dramatic behavior. Discover their true identity →
- That Oscar-worthy collapse? It's not what it looks like, but the real explanation is just as entertaining. See the real explanation →
- Prairie dogs have a very sophisticated communication system.
- Wild prairie dogs are dramatically different from their zoo counterparts in ways you'd have to see to believe.
Every once in a while, animals decide that they want to be dramatic. For whatever reason, they turn their acting skills to the max and act out a scene straight from a movie. One example is the prairie dog, which can act so well it deserves an Oscar. This Instagram post by @coloradowildcam shows a wild prairie dog walking up to a camera while reaching out to the sky before theatrically rolling onto its side. Read on to learn more about why prairie dogs are so dramatic.
Prairie dogs stand on their hind legs to make their calls more audible to the surrounding community.
©Warren Price Photography/Shutterstock.com
Dramatic Prairie Dog
Prairie dogs have some pretty silly behaviors that you don’t often see in other animals. For example, they are naturally expressive animals that can be entertaining to watch. If you’ve ever seen them at the zoo or in nature, you’ll notice they sit up on their hind legs like sentries, twisting and turning their heads as if they’re constantly on the lookout for something. Despite their name, prairie dogs are actually large squirrels that live in colonies. You’ve most likely heard some of their calls, which have different meanings, such as warning of predators and indicating the direction from which they are approaching. These animals are amazing to see in the wild and tend to display even more dramatic behaviors than those observed in zoos. They live in the grasslands of the central and western United States, including Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and both North Dakota and South Dakota.
The video above is a prime example of just how dramatic these animals can be. In the video, the prairie dog approaches the camera while reaching its paws out to the sky, as if it’s taking its last breath before flopping over onto its side. Although it appears to be in its last moments, the prairie dog is actually just fine and simply stretching. Similar to how dogs stretch their backs, the prairie dog reaches out and is likely preparing to take a nap afterward. The amusing video left many viewers laughing at the little show the prairie dog put on. This charming video offers a great example of just how dramatic wild animals can be.
