Prairie Dogs Do The Wave To Test Predator Readiness, Scientists Think

Prairie dogs have a lot more in common with the beer-guzzling, face-painted denizens of football stadiums than you might think. Both use a very important tool to interact with their neighbors: the wave. University of Manitoba biologist James Hare and colleagues were investigating the black-tailed prairie dog and a particular behavioral tic called "jump-yip displays," where the little critters hop up on their hind legs, wave their front paws, and make a noise that sounds like "wee-oo":