PHOTO GALLERIES — The Prairie Dog Project

Gallery Early Spring

Our first glimpse of emerging prairie dogs is often a head tentatively peeking out from a burrow. ©MRR 2017

The first prairie dogs to emerge in the spring are typically adult males. Here male 45 surveys his surroundings. ©MRR 2017

18 looks on from his burrow, wary of larger males such as 45, who will spend the spring establishing his territory. Adult males are marked with numbers 0-49. ©MRR 2017

18 displays an upright alert posture as he watches for potential threats. ©MRR 2017

A territorial dispute often involves a chase. ©MRR 2017

Female prairie dogs are marked with numbers 50 and above or with a unique marking, such as four stripes down each flank to designate female 4 Stripe (or 4STR on a datasheet). 4STR was marked in the fall before submerging for the winter, and will lose her marking during her spring molt in May. ©MRR 2017

Front paws wet from snow, 45 looks out as he forages. ©MRR 2017

Female 4 Stripe gathers nesting material for her burrow, likely anticipating a cold night. ©MRR 2017

Early in the season (and sometimes well into April), snow cover is still common. ©MRR 2017

45 pauses to groom in front of a trap surrounding. Surroundings are set around specific burrows when particular prairie dogs need to be caught for marking in the early Spring. ©MRR 2017

An unmarked prairie dog has been trapped in a surrounding, ready to be marked before the busy mating season begins. ©MRR 2017

Females often stand for long periods at their burrows in the early Spring (Wetsuit here), and will forage near their burrows as the males of their clan run around and often herd them into their burrows to establish dominance. ©MRR 2017

50 and 83 emerged from the same burrow, possibly sisters, most definitely kin. Prairie dog females exhibit philopatry, remaining in the same clan as their mothers, aunts, and female relatives. ©MRR 2017

Wetsuit investigates a burrow marking. These tags are placed at heavily-used burrows for referencing when taking behavioral data. ©MRR 2017

Recently emerged 50 and 83 share a friendly kiss. Context and relationships determine whether kissing is friendly or hostile. After mating, 50 and 83 will become less friendly as they vie for nursery burrows. ©MRR 2017

4 Stripe grooms at the mouth of her burrow. ©MRR 2017

An unmarked dog, having just emerged, will be caught as soon as possible to receive an identification and be entered into the study pool. ©MRR 2017

R78, a small yearling male, surveys his surroundings as he emerges from his winter torpor. ©MRR 2017

Gallery Mating Behavior

©John Hoogland 2012

Males 29 and 45 have a territorial dispute. Many females have emerged in their area, and they will dispute through the mating season, often fighting. ©MRR 2017

During the mating season, adult males are evidently sexually mature, displaying pigmented testes and a distended scrotum. ©MRR 2017

45 stands over Wetsuit at her burrow, anticipating her estrus. ©MRR 2017

45’s pursuit of Wetsuit is relentless on the day she goes into estrus. ©MRR 2017

45 brings nesting material to a burrow prior to mating with Wetsuit. Though not common, this behavior has been observed in mating males. ©MRR 2017

45 lets out a mating call at the mouth of the burrow where he has chased Wetsuit. The mating call is sounded before and/or after mating, and if not for context can easily be mistaken for an alarm call. ©MRR 2017

45 chases and herds 50 into her burrow. We call this a Chase Herd (scored as CH on a datasheet) and it is one of the most common interactions we track, occurring between males, between females, and males to females, though rarely females to males unless that male is a yearling. ©MRR 2017

Generally a couple to a few days after mating, females will begin to exhibit maternal behavior, including carrying nesting material to potential nursery burrows. Gestation will last on average 28 days. ©MRR 2017

After mating, 83 licks her vulva. This is one of several aboveground cues that signify a copulation has occurred. ©MRR 2017

Despite this being her day of estrus, 83 is not ready and rebuffs 45 for now. On their day of estrus, females are only receptive for a few hours. ©MRR 2017

24 has a very late wakeup and licks his penis (scored as LP on a datasheet) immediately upon emerging, indicating he spent the morning copulating with a female. ©MRR 2017

Having already mated with her, 24 tries to keep 6 Stripe underground, chasing and herding her into her burrow to keep her away from other males in the area. ©MRR 2017

After a male has had his Critical Underground Consortship (CUC) with a female (in which insemination occurs and which is characterized by disappearing underground together for many minutes up to hours), he usually does not go down with her for another copulation. Here 24 and 6 Stripe share a hostile kiss as he tries to keep her at her burrow, having already had their CUC. ©MRR 2017

24 will relentlessly chase 6 Stripe to keep her away from other males. ©MRR 2017

R21 chases 49 out of his territory on a day when 5SRS, a female in the area, goes into estrus. ©MRR 2017

Some time after his first check, 2 comes back for another sniff at Wide Apart. ©MRR 2017

Male 36 investigates female 90. Gunnison’s prairie dogs exhibit sexual dimorphism in body mass, and here you can see how much larger 36 is than 90. ©MRR 2017

36 continues to pursue 90 to check for estrus, and she continues to elude him. ©MRR 2017

RR0, a female who has already mated, brings nesting material to her burrow as she begins to show maternal nesting behaviors. ©MRR 2017

A female runs away from a male trying to sniff her. ©MRR 2017

Female 4 Stripe licks her vulva on her day of estrus. ©MRR 2017

Female 55 runs from male 36 as he pursues her. ©MRR 2017

A mating call from male R21. ©MRR 2017

Another mating call from R21. ©MRR 2017

Male 2 comes up behind female Wide Apart to check her for estrus. ©MRR 2017

Licking after copulation. ©MRR 2017

©John Hoogland 2009

©John Hoogland 2012

©John Hoogland 2009

©John Hoogland 2010

©John Hoogland 2012

Gallery Prairie Dogs in Battle

Males 29 and 31 in a hostile kiss. ©MRR 2017

31 aims a bite at 29’s flank as the other dog retreats. This would be scored as a territorial dispute and chase (TD, C) but with no fight (F), as the two prairie dogs did not roll into full-contact fighting. ©MRR 2017

©MRR 2017

Both males jump away from each other upon breaking a hostile kiss. ©MRR 2017

29 and 45 go airborne in an intense contact fight. ©MRR 2017

The two dogs break apart. Contact fights usually only last a couple to a few seconds. ©MRR 2017

©MRR 2017

A full contact fight. ©MRR 2017

The fight breaks apart. ©MRR 2017

A full contact fight occurs. ©MRR 2017

A lucky still shot captures Triple Stripe biting 51 in the face as they fight. ©MRR 2017

49 tackles R21. ©MRR 2017

©MRR 2017

The two females again break into a contact fight. ©MRR 2017

On this day, WA9 had ventured too close to the burrow Wetsuit had claimed. Though these two females live in the same clan and are blood related, after they have copulated they become defensively aggressive over potential nursery burrows. ©MRR 2017

©MRR 2017

©John Hoogland 2009

©John Hoogland 2010

©John Hoogland 2012

Gallery Juveniles

A closeup portrait. ©John Hoogland 2007

A mother carefully carries her baby in her mouth as she transfers her litter from one burrow into another. ©John Hoogland 2006

After a little over five weeks nursing underground, this litter makes their first emergence into the sunlight.©John Hoogland 2006

We mark emergent juveniles according to their mother's marking scheme. The following year these individuals will receive unique markings, but for now the only distinguishing mark is a cap of ink on the head for female babies.©John Hoogland 2006

In a trap. ©MRR 2016

It's a tough life for a prairie dog, and juveniles are especially vulnerable to predation. Here a long-tailed weasel approaches a nursery burrow.©John Hoogland 2006

Juvenile prairie dogs are very small.©John Hoogland 2007

An overhead photo while handling an especially cooperative juvenile.©John Hoogland 2007

When they first emerge, baby prairie dogs will tentatively remain near their burrow.©John Hoogland 2007

Huddled together. ©John Hoogland 2007

Babies are tiny but have full bellies after foraging. ©John Hoogland 2007

Two mothers stand on alert, surrounded by their offspring.©John Hoogland 2011

Mothers may transfer their offspring either by leading them or by carrying them. ©John Hoogland 2006

Relaxed and autogrooming. ©John Hoogland 2007

Sibling curiosity. ©MRR 2017

Testing what's edible. ©MRR 2017

Mother and son both autogrooming (self-grooming). ©MRR 2017

A funny face while playing. ©MRR 2017

Daughter seeks permission to suckle. ©MRR 2017

More common in certain species and less common in others, this Gunnison's prairie dog gives us a rare glimpse of aboveground nursing. ©MRR 2017

Rearing up to pounce. ©MRR 2017

Tussling in play provides as much learning as it does fun for juveniles. ©MRR 2017

A playful baby pounces on his mother. ©MRR 2017

Who knows what's going on underground; this baby woke up one morning with one eye closed, perhaps from a scratch. Later in the day the eye was open and healthy. ©MRR 2017

The Collar Belly marking on this juvenile makes him especially cute - in this researcher's opinion. ©MRR 2017

Siblings tumble into a burrow as they play. ©MRR 2017

Cops and robbers? ©MRR 2017

A relaxed sitting juvenile eating grass. ©MRR 2017

A post-plague juvenile at our Redondo Meadows colony. ©MRR 2017

A shy litter on their first day of emergence. ©MRR 2017

A baby runs behind his mother during a burrow transfer. This is called "leading." ©MRR 2017

Sibling touch time. ©MRR 2017

A baby drops a glob of dirt after a test bite. ©MRR 2017

Released back into his nursery burrow. ©MRR 2017

Sisters playing. ©MRR 2017

Playing looks nothing like the fights adults will engage it, but play does prepare prairie dogs for hostile interactions in adulthood. ©MRR 2017

A portrait on all fours. ©MRR 2017

Reaching for the high stuff. ©MRR 2017

Play copulating is a common form of play among juveniles. ©MRR 2017

Wrestling. ©MRR 2017

Sometimes three or more babies get in on the play. ©MRR 2017

Watching juveniles tumble into all sorts of positions can be very amusing. ©MRR 2017

A bear hug. ©MRR 2017

A pounce. ©MRR 2017

And a tumble. ©MRR 2017

Juveniles spend a lot of time exploring their surroundings, foraging, and playing, but also spend a considerable amount of their day just watching. ©MRR 2017

Siblings covered in dust as they play-fight over a bit of forage. ©MRR 2017

Not all juvenile prairie dogs will survive the summer or their first winter. Their carefree early months are brief. ©MRR 2017

Two weeks after emerging for the first time, juveniles are already markedly grown. ©MRR 2017

Gallery Capture & Handling

A closeup of a juvenile's nails during handling. ©MRR 2017

Snow in a trap can inhibit visibility and expose a captured prairie dog to cold and wet. We shake the snow from the traps before opening them in the morning. ©MRR 2017

John pauses to pose for the camera as he shakes snow from traps. ©MRR 2017

We use traffic cones to mark important burrows as well as plugging backdoors when attempting to capture a specific prairie dog. ©MRR 2017

A surrounding has been set to capture a prairie dog. When they are proving difficult to catch, we set surroundings just outside the burrow entrance, usually not baited unless we want to provide extra incentive. ©MRR 2017

Some trap surroundings require up to 36 traps to prevent escape, while smaller ones only require 6. ©MRR 2017

The squad works together to relocate an observation blind. ©MRR 2017

Blinds for the 2017 season can be lifted on and off stilts depending on need for visibility or high winds. ©MRR 2017

The crew pauses to pose for the camera. ©MRR 2017

Squaddie Katie marks the burrow location on flagging tape, which will go on the trap before a newly captured prairie dog is removed and taken to the marking van. Flagging each trap ensures the prairie dog is returned to the correct location. ©MRR 2017

Armed with flagging tape, a permanent marker, and a bait bucket, John walks to a surrounding to check the traps. ©MRR 2017

Squaddie Patrick shows Denver Zoo volunteer Tim how to open traps at a surrounding. ©MRR 2017

Squaddie Rashidah marks the burrow number on flagging tape before tying the tape to the trap of a captured prairie dog. ©MRR 2016

After labeling the trap with flagging tape, squaddie Rashidah takes a close look at a newly captured prairie dog. ©MRR 2016

Arriving on site in the morning, the crew collects their datasheet clipboards and bait buckets before retreating to their blinds/towers for the day. ©MRR 2017

Reading the ultrasound machine. ©MRR 2017

John inspecting traps. ©MRR 2017

In the summer, we pull stuffed predators (badgers, coyotes, and bobcats) through the colony to take data on alarm calls. The decoys are pulled using a string at a carefully measured pace. ©MRR 2016

We have dozens upon dozens of traffic cones. ©MRR 2017

Handling is a team effort. ©MRR 2017

Delicately holding a juvenile. ©MRR 2017

Marking a juvenile. ©MRR 2017

We use sandwich bags to weigh juveniles. ©MRR 2017

Squaddie Jimmy engages with a passing family. Speaking with hikers and park visitors gives us the opportunity to explain not only our research but the importance of prairie dogs on the landscape. ©MRR 2017

Nursery burrows by mother. Sometimes we have to write notes on our hands for when we're out of our towers. ©MRR 2017

On busier marking days, captured prairie dogs are placed beneath the marking van to keep them in the cooler shade. ©MRR 2016

A view of the marking van, captured prairie dogs in wait. ©MRR 2016

Baby prairie dogs wait for handling and marking.©MRR 2016

A prairie dog remains alert as she waits for handling. ©MRR 2016

John checks for eartags before handling. ©MRR 2016

A handling bag keeps the prairie dog and handler calm and safe, with a zipper allowing for varying degrees of access to the animal. ©MRR 2016

The front of the bag can also be opened to allow for head and neck marking. ©MRR 2016

Squaddie Amber holds the trap as John puts finishing touches to a rear-legs marking. ©MRR 2016

Freshly marked prairie dogs are released when the ink dries sufficiently not to smudge. ©MRR 2016

Some adult females receive unique markings other than a number, such as Wetsuit (WS). ©MRR 2016

Taking a tissue sample. ©MRR 2017

Weighing a juvenile. ©MRR 2017

A closeup. ©MRR 2017

An unmarked juvenile. ©MRR 2017

Returning a marked juvenile. ©MRR 2017

Eye contact in the trap. ©MRR 2016

Gallery Portraits in the Prairie

©MRR 2017

Photo by Elaine Miller Bond (www.elainemillerbond.com)

©MRR 2017

Gallery Eyeview GoPro Captures

©MRR 2017

Snow-covered mornings. ©MRR 2017

©MRR 2017

Big space, little prairie dog. ©MRR 2017

©MRR 2017

Emerging for the first time. ©MRR 2017

Approaching dusk. ©MRR 2017

©MRR 2017

Surrounded. ©MRR 2017

Mini Gallery Alarm Calls

Female RSBB demonstrates the tell-tale open-mouthed alarm call, pink tongue visible. ©MRR 2017

A white-tailed prairie dog exhibiting the classic alarm call posture. ©John Hoogland 2006

Though hard to see at a distance, this prairie dog is sounding an alarm call from the tall grass. ©MRR 2017

Female Wetsuit sounds the alarm, likely upset by the traps surrounding her nursery burrow. ©MRR 2017

Like alarmed by a nearby badger. ©John Hoogland 2006

The lower incisors (front teeth) are visible during an alarm call. Though these calls can be given from a number of positions, up on their hind legs is the most common. ©MRR 2017

Many prairie dogs will run to the entrance of their burrow before sounding the alarm. ©MRR 2017

Female Wetsuit stands tall on her hind legs to sound the alarm while keeping watch of the perceived threat. ©MRR 2017

This white-tailed prairie dog female shows off her wide mouth giving an alarm call. ©John Hoogland 2007

Mini Gallery Alert

Upon perceiving a threat, a prairie dog will often run to the mouth of its burrow, keeping an eye on its surroundings from the safest position. ©MRR 2017

A juvenile prairie dog practices standing on alert. ©MRR 2017

Alert from the burrow mound. ©MRR 2017

Two yearling males stand in twin postures on alert. ©MRR 2017

Responding to an alarm call in the clan, almost every member stands on alert to locate the predator. ©MRR 2017

Male 0 (zero) stands as tall as he can on alert. ©MRR 2017

Three lactating mothers on alert. ©John Hoogland 2012

Standing at its tallest allows a prairie dog to scan farther. ©MRR 2017

An entire clan on alert. ©John Hoogland 2011

Mini Gallery Predators

A coyote has been spotted by the prairie dogs it's been stalking. ©MRR 2017

A coyote hunts in the taller grass. ©MRR 2017

A long-tailed weasel can make quick and easy prey of juvenile prairie dogs. ©John Hoogland 2006

A wandering weasel makes its way into a prairie dog trap. ©John Hoogland 2006

Long-tailed weasels sport white coats in the winter - the better to come upon their prey by surprise. ©John Hoogland 2010

Weasels are inquisitive animals. ©John Hoogland 2006

Prairie dogs will sometimes (though infrequently) give false alarms at animals that are not predators before the prairie dog can determine what the animal is. Here another prey animal, the pronghorn, shows its own vulnerability. ©John Hoogland 2006

Badgers are brazen predators in prairie dog colonies. ©John Hoogland 2007

A Swainson's hawk lands in a colony during its hunt. ©John Hoogland 2011

A Swainson's hawk flies over the colony looking for juvenile prairie dogs. ©John Hoogland 2011

Living within the confines of a prairie dog colony gives predators like badgers easier access to meaty prey. ©John Hoogland 2012

A badger comes home with a juvenile prairie dog in her jaws. ©John Hoogland 2012

A badger comes home with an adult prairie dog in her jaws. ©John Hoogland 2012

This juvenile bullsnake will grow to adulthood hunting juvenile prairie dogs. ©MRR 2016

A gull from a nearby lake scavenges on the leftovers of a killed prairie dog. ©John Hoogland 2012

This badger mother must hunt almost nonstop to feed her growing offspring. ©John Hoogland 2012

A yawn puts this badger's crushing teeth on display. ©John Hoogland 2012

As a carnivore, badgers have long, sharp canines for grabbing prey. ©John Hoogland 2012

This taxidermied stuffed badger is pulled through the colony to take targeted data on alarm calls. ©MRR 2016

Coyotes are colored to blend in with their surroundings. ©MRR 2017

Juvenile prairie dogs will often be startled by swooping songbirds like this mountain bluebird, being hypersensitive to their new surroundings. ©MRR 2017

Coyotes are quick and silent, but find catching prairie dogs difficult because of colony vigilance. ©MRR 2017

Ravens are more likely to scavenge on prairie dog carcasses, but will also opportunistically grab newly-emerged juvenile prairie dogs. ©MRR 2017

A vulture soars overhead, searching for any carcasses leftover from predations. ©MRR 2017

Mini Gallery Squad Slideshow

John and squaddies. ©MRR 2017

Helping John in the marking van. ©MRR 2017

Marlin. ©MRR 2017

Adjustments in the tower. ©John Hoogland 2006

©MRR 2017

Patrick. ©MRR 2017

Katie. ©MRR 2017

A squaddie in one of our older observation towers. ©John Hoogland 2009

Carly, Dennis, Katie, John, and Jimmy. ©MRR 2017

©MRR 2017

Marlin and a snowprairiedog. ©Marlin Dart 2017

Patrick setting a surrounding. ©MRR 2017

The squad arriving for the morning. ©MRR 2017

Dennis with a juvenile. ©MRR 2017

Observer in an observation tower. ©John Hoogland 2006

Patrick and Denver Zoo volunteer Tim. ©MRR 2017

Us and our binocs. ©MRR 2017

Walking away at the end of the day. ©MRR 2017

Squaddie Katie in a new observation blind. ©MRR 2017

Carly with a juvenile. ©MRR 2017

Mini Gallery Territorial Calls

This is the typical posture of a territorial call. ©MRR 2017

The white-tailed prairie dog will sometimes throw its head back in a territorial call. ©John Hoogland 2006

And other times the white-tailed prairie dog will not throw its head back. ©John Hoogland 2006

It's approaching evening and 45, the dominant male in his clan, lets out a territorial call. ©MRR 2017

There are a few postures given for territorial calls, but a forward head and half-open mouth in an O is the tell-tale visual sign. ©MRR 2017

45 lets out a passionate territorial call mid-run. ©MRR 2017

Though not as often as males, females also let out territorial calls throughout the day. ©MRR 2017

A white-tailed prairie dog territorial call. ©John Hoogland 2006

The head-back posture can be extreme in the white-tailed species. ©John Hoogland 2007

R21 stops mid-fight to let out a territorial call. A clear scar on his left cheek was acquired from one such fight with another male. ©MRR 2017

0 (zero), the dominant male in his clan, spends all day during the mating season running around and establishing his territory. ©MRR 2017

The classic O mouth shape can be seen here as 0 lets out a territorial call mid-run. ©MRR 2017

A classic territorial call posture. ©MRR 2017

Snow-covered mornings see prairie dogs waking up late and slow, but the dominant male always comes out early and lets out a territorial call. ©MRR 2017

During the mating season, males will visit the burrows in their territory looking for females and establishing their dominance. ©MRR 2017

Another white-tailed prairie dog giving a territorial call without the head thrown back. ©John Hoogland 2010

R21 did a lot of traveling as he attempted to secure his own territory, letting out frequent territorial calls. ©MRR 2017

Another head-back territorial call by a white-tailed prairie dog. ©John Hoogland 2010

This rare image shows a Gunnison's prairie dog throwing his head back during a territorial call. The head throw is not known within this species, but this particular individual (adult male 5) did it often. ©MRR 2017