Research reveals that some prairie dog alarm calls encode remarkably specific information about humans and other predators.

Poppy the Prairie Dog makes a special noise when she spots a hawk or eagle.

"Prairie dogs have alarm calls for different species of predators," Slobodchikoff says. "We have identified different calls for humans, domestic dogs, red-tailed hawks, coyotes, cats, badgers, weasels ...

Prairie dogs start barking bloody murder and scramble for their burrows as a hawk glides fast and low over the colony. The emergency broadcast gives the rotund fur balls ample warning. For the raptor, ...