Naturally Occurring Encounters between Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) and Snakes

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Abstract
Four naturally occurring encounters between black-tailed prairie dogs and snakes are described. The behaviors shown by the prairie dogs included investigatory approaches and alarm communicatory behaviors, as well as attacks on and interment of the snakes. The behaviors observed during these interactions are compared to those reported by Owings and Owings (1979) during artificially staged encounters between prairie dogs and their snake predators. The possible evolutionary significance of cooperative antipredator behavior is briefly discussed.