Black-tailed prairie dogs are small, chubby animals that live on the grasslands of West Texas and other western states. In spite of their name, they are not dogs at all. They are rodents, like squirrels and mice. Prairie dogs got their name from the sharp, barking call they make when danger is near.

Prairie dogs live in large groups called towns. Underground, a town is a maze of tunnels and rooms. Some rooms are for sleeping, and others are for raising babies. While the others eat, one prairie dog often stands guard on a mound of dirt. If it spots a hawk or a coyote, it barks a warning, and the whole group dives into their holes.