But the prairie dog still has an image problem. This is no primate, with humanlike expressions. This is a lowly rodent. The prejudice is that lowly rodents have to be by definition fairly stupid. Not everyone who deals with prairie dogs is interested in their language skills.
Ranchers say they are pests that ruin grazing land and carry bubonic plague.
Slobodchikoff says the prairie dog's reputation as a pest is exaggerated, and its potential contribution to research underestimated. The Lessons of Prairie Dogs After all, says the professor, if prairie dogs have the ability to think and communicate, perhaps other species can do the same. Goodall agrees but is not optimistic. It doesn't happen that way. The resistance continues.