Salisbury Zoo Prairie Dogs

While looking at the prairie dogs at the Salisbury Zoo in Salisbury, Maryland, a toad hopped into their enclosure and was followed by a garter snake. The prairie dogs did a quick attack then fell back, almost like they were giving the snake a chance to retreat. When the snake didn't, they let loose on him. The family consists of a male and female and their three young pups. The parents did most of the work while the pups jumped in as much as they could. The snake got in some good hits too. You can see in the video the prairie dogs at times rub their faces in the ground right after fighting him. The father even bled from the face (don't worry.. he was attended to by the zoo staff.) Surprisingly, the littlest pup was the most active in attacking the snake as well. It eventually found the toad again and stalked it and attacked it for a good ten minutes. The mother kept running up to the pups and pushing them back. Since toads sometimes secrete something from their skin that makes animals sick and foam from the mouth, I'm assuming she knew this and tried to protect her kids. She even 'barked' and 'chirped' at them when they got too close. The fence was too high for the toad to get out so a zoo employee went in to rescue the toad and grab the dead snake. The snake was tore up!!
I was really surprised that they were so agressive and fearless! I think we underestimate rodents sometimes. :)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• prairie dogs
• salisbury zoo
• salisbury maryland
• snake attack
• assassins

[tagtaylor]

just went to the salisbury zoo yesterday

[121CrazyKid]

it is the funniest thing i have seen from them and i volunteer at the zoo!!!!!

[rowdieboy7]

Lol!!! holy crap!!lol