Prairie Dog
These grassland rodents are very well adapted to defending themselves against predators. Using a series of high-pitched vocal calls, they are able to communicate what animal is approaching, how big it is and how fast. Their natural competitors for resources are squirrels, who they routinely hunt and slaughter for sport. According to “New Scientist” one expert observed the “quick, subtle and unanticipated” killings, describing one incident in which a squirrel was bitten to death and the carcass left abandoned.