Prairie dog pups come out to explore their new world as an anxious mother barks out a warning in the background. The language of prairie dogs is so sophisticated that it is often compared to that of dolphins and whales. Within that warning bark, the prairie dog is communicating whether the intruder is a predator such as a coyote or hawk, or simply a passer-by. It also describes body shape, color (even shirt color!), and any object they may be carrying. To a prairie dog, that bark is like a full page ad on that intruder, but to us, it is simply a 'bark'.