2105_0431 Black-tailed Prairie Dog Jump-yip
Photos from the rolling red Toyota blind continue with a prairie dog doing its characteristic "jump-yip" - usually a warning call to other colony members, but sometimes (apparently) an "all clear" signal.
This little sentinel has the added advantage of having dug a burrow right beside a large rock: nobody's sneaking up on him! This shot is from last spring. I managed several jump-yip shots last week, but none were as good. It happens fast and is over in less than a second, the body launching up, with an accompanying high-pitched vocalization. Often it will be answered by neighbouring prairie dogs.
Grasslands National Park lies at the northern extent of this species' range, and is the only place in Canada where they are found.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2021 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
2105_0431 Black-tailed Prairie Dog Jump-yip
Photos from the rolling red Toyota blind continue with a prairie dog doing its characteristic "jump-yip" - usually a warning call to other colony members, but sometimes (apparently) an "all clear" signal.
This little sentinel has the added advantage of having dug a burrow right beside a large rock: nobody's sneaking up on him! This shot is from last spring. I managed several jump-yip shots last week, but none were as good. It happens fast and is over in less than a second, the body launching up, with an accompanying high-pitched vocalization. Often it will be answered by neighbouring prairie dogs.
Grasslands National Park lies at the northern extent of this species' range, and is the only place in Canada where they are found.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2021 James R. Page - all rights reserved.