<P> Alarm response behavior varies according to the type of predator announced . If the alarm indicates a hawk diving toward the colony, all the prairie dogs in its flight path dive into their holes, while those outside the flight path stand and watch . If the alarm is for a human, all members of the colony immediately rush inside the burrows . For coyotes, the prairie dogs move to the entrance of a burrow and stand outside the entrance, observing the coyote, while those prairie dogs that were inside the burrows will come out to stand and watch as well . For domestic dogs, the response is to observe, standing in place where they were when the alarm was sounded, again with the underground prairie dogs emerging to watch . </P> <P> There is debate over whether the alarm calling of prairie dogs is selfish or altruistic . It is possible that prairie dogs alert others to the presence of a predator so they can protect themselves . However, it is also possible that the calls are meant to cause confusion and panic in the groups and cause the others to be more conspicuous to the predator than the caller . Studies of black - tailed prairie dogs suggest that alarm - calling is a form of kin selection, as a prairie dog's call alerts both offspring and nondescended kin, such as cousins, nephews and nieces . Prairie dogs with kin close by called more often than those that did not have kin nearby . In addition, the caller may be trying to make itself more noticeable to the predator . Predators, though, seem to have difficulty determining which prairie dog is making the call due to its "ventriloquistic" nature . </P> <P> Perhaps the most striking of prairie dog communications is the territorial call or "jump - yip" display of the black - tailed prairie dog . A black - tailed prairie dog will stretch the length of its body vertically and throw its forefeet into the air while making a call . A jump - yip from one prairie dog causes others nearby to do the same . </P> <P> Ecologists consider this rodent to be a keystone species . They are an important prey species, being the primary diet in prairie species such as the black - footed ferret, swift fox, golden eagle, red tailed hawk, American badger, coyote and ferruginous hawk . Other species, such as the golden - mantled ground squirrel, mountain plover, and the burrowing owl, also rely on prairie dog burrows for nesting areas . Even grazing species, such as plains bison, pronghorn, and mule deer have shown a proclivity for grazing on the same land used by prairie dogs . </P>

What are three main differences between prairie dogs and domestic dogs