California and Ohio are two states that currently do not permit prairie dogs as pets. There are also some states that allow only prairie dogs of one sex, and at least one in which they are legal but must be neutered. Most states do allow them, but you'd better check. If a prairie dog is angry and is going to bite, its tail will fluff, it will chatter, and so on. The prairie dog has a body language as clear and elaborate as that of an angry dog with its head down low, growling and glaring and showing its teeth.
Prairie dogs are the same.
If you insist on messing with them despite the signals, you may get nailed. But you will have been warned. All rights reserved.