Prairie Dog Alarms Protect Long-Billed Curlews

Prairie dogs are like alarms in the plains. They bark to warn other animals about danger. They have different barks for dangers from the land or air.

Prairie dogs are food for many animals, like eagles and foxes. Birds also eat grass in the plains. Long-billed curlews listen to the prairie dogs to stay safe.

Birds listen to other birds for food and danger. Scientists found birds listen to mammals too. This may happen more often than we know, but we need more study.

Prairie dogs live together in big groups underground. They listen for barks and hide. The barks are loud and go very far, helping everyone hear.

Curlews hide their heads when they hear prairie dogs. This helps them hide in the grass. Scientists tested this by using a fake badger and playing barks, the birds hid sooner with the barks.