It was so much fun to watch the Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) that I encountered in multiple locations during my recent visit to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora, North Dakota. I could see them from my car when I was driving along the roads looking for buffalo and wild horses, but I also encountered them on both sides of some of the trails when I was hiking.
The prairie dogs seemed playful and energetic and were surprisingly vocal. They seemed to be calling out to each other all of the time in very distinctive squeaky voices. It seems like some of the calls were warnings that I was approaching, because quite often the prairie dogs would scurry into their holes as I drew near, sometimes peeking out with just the top of their heads and their eyes visible.
Here are some selected shots of prairie dogs in which I tried to capture a sense of their playful personalities.
Mike Powell 
Very nice Mike! The 2nd image is my favorite!!
That’s my favorite too, Reed. I did not lead with that one solely because of the way that Word Press cuts off images in the portrait format when showing them in the Reader feed.
Nice photos!!
If I understand correctly, prairie dogs have a vocabulary with specific squeaks and calls to warn one another for things like “people”(or whatever they call us humans) as well as gun,dog, snake, etc.
Thanks. It makes a lot of sense that they would have different signals, as some birds do, though I must confess that I don’t understand their language. 🙂
I’ve never seen a prairie dog. They’re cute little critters.
Thanks, Michelle. I have seen them at the National Zoo in Washington DC, but it is a whole lot different to see them in the wild. They are definitely cute little creatures.
Now I miss my prairie dog! Having one for a pet has some downsides, but they’re so cute it’s easy to forgive a lot. And they sure are vocal, although I’m fairly certain their calls aren’t specific to guns, dogs, and such. I do know that their alarm calls vary according to the level of threat they perceive.
You were getting close to my neck of the prairies. North Dakota has very similar landscape to Southern Manitoba, near Winnipeg. 😊Nice shots.
Thanks, Louella. This was my first time seeing the prairies and I really enjoyed both the scenery and the wildlife.
I would love to see and photograph prairie dogs so am green with envy, Mike. Lucky you.
Thanks, Steve. I previously had a pretty close look at prairie dogs at the National Zoo in DC, but that was a far cry from seeing them in the wild.
In the wild is much better.
Indeed.
I know they are the bane of so many people’s existence but I think prairie dogs are adorable. How can anyone look at that middle photograph and not think they are super cute?
I totally agree, but I guess that it is all a matter of perspective. I love certain weeds that are viewed as invasive and insects that are agricultural pests. I tend to look at the beauty inherent in my subjects without factoring in their destructive potential.
Love prairie dogs and that second photo is adorable!
Thanks. The second one is my favorite!
Love its expression.
Love the pictures! I have chipmunks in my garden. I tell them it’s a good thing they are so cute when I see them nibbling on my vegetables. I am sure farmers and others who have prairie dogs must feel the same way. Well most do I hope.
Fun captures, Mike. I love the full body shot showing off his paws and the last shot with one peeking out of the ground.
Thanks, Ellen. It was so much fun trying to capture shots of the prairie dogs. They were very vocal and moved about a lot, but also seemed curious enough to look at me and “freeze” from time to time.