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Prairie dogs aren’t dogs at all but are actually a species of ground squirrels. They are cousins of the squirrels we find in our backyards. Prairie dogs live in big social groups called prairie dog towns across the dry grasslands of North America. They may be adorable, but these little mammals are fierce fighters with sharp teeth and long claws.
In the video above you can see prairie dogs performing what looks like playful behavior. However, it’s an important form of communication. The little prairie dogs stand on their hind legs, stretch their paws to the sky, and give out a high-pitched yelp. It’s a contagious action. When one does it, the whole group will follow suit. It’s called “jump yipping.” We’re taking a deep dive into why a prairie dog might jump yip and what it signifies to the others in the group.

Prairie dogs will stand upright and watch for any signs of danger, ready to signal to the group if trouble approaches.
©Try_my_best/Shutterstock.com
Where Do Prairie Dogs Live?
Prairie dogs can be found living in dry grasslands across North America. Their habitats are mainly west of the Mississippi River and reach from northern Mexico through the Great Plains and up into the prairies of Canada. Prairie dogs burrow underground creating a network of tunnels that are several feet below ground. The prairie dogs will create some tunnels that are close to the surface where they can sit vigil and listen for noises above ground.
Although the prairie dogs live in large colonies, they form smaller family groups called coteries. The families are made of one male, several females, and their young.
Do All Prairie Dogs Jump Yip?
There are five species of prairie dogs, but only two of them are known to jump yip. Those are the black-tailed prairie dog (which lives in the Great Plains from Mexico to Canada) and the Mexican prairie dog living in the plains of northern Mexico.) Most of the research done on jump yipping has been on the black-tailed prairie dog.
Why Prairie Dogs Jump Yip
It looks like a playful behavior when the little mammals throw their front legs into the air and emit a yip. However, researchers have uncovered that jump-yipping serves an important role in the prairie dog community. Prairie dogs have many predators including black-footed ferrets, hawks, foxes, weasels, bobcats, and coyotes. Because of this, the little rodents must be constantly on watch.
When one prairie dog does the jump yip, it quickly spreads around the colony, like people doing the wave at a sporting event. Researchers have witnessed prairie dogs jump-yipping in many situations:
- When a predator approaches the prairie dog town.
- As an all-clear signal when the predator is gone.
- During a territory dispute between two prairie dogs.
- When meeting other prairie dogs.
However, one study revealed that the jump yip is mainly used as a way for the prairie dog to see how many of its neighbors are nearby and alert. When the others respond with their own jump yips, the prairie dog knows his call has been answered. If the prairie dog sees a large response, it knows its group is vigilant and it can relax a little.
Everyone Is on Alert
The research theorized the reason why we see the jump yip occurring in so many completely different situations is because it is a way to check if the others in the group are nearby and paying attention. The prairie dog that begins the first jump yip is checking to see how many prairie dogs can hear the call and if they are vigilant enough to respond. If the prairie dog gets a good response from the group, the researchers noticed it became a little more relaxed, as if it knew it wasn’t the only one around checking for danger.
Watching the prairie dogs jump yip shows researchers just how socially aware the little mammals are. When they catch the contagion of a jump yip, it’s not unlike humans yawning in empathy when another person yawns.
Are Prairie Dogs Endangered?
Like the American buffalo, prairie dogs were once plentiful, creating their prairie dogs towns across the landscape. It’s been estimated that five billion prairie dogs used to live from Mexico to Canada. But today, the prairie dog’s range has shrunk to 5% of the size it was before the settlers moved across the U.S. Furthermore, two of the five species of prairie dogs are endangered: Utah and Mexican prairie dogs.
When the settlers moved west, they thought prairie dogs were “vermin” and full of disease. They killed the prairie dogs off in large numbers. However, prairie dogs aren’t known to carry disease and are actually what is known as a “keystone” species for a habitat. A keystone species is one that, if it disappears, can cause the entire ecosystem to collapse. Prairie dogs are an important food source for predators in the area. Also, their burrows provide shelter to other animals and they eat a diet of vegetation, keeping plants from overgrowing.
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