Preening is a natural prairie dog behavior tied to social bonding and trust. In the wild, prairie dogs groom one another to strengthen social ties, reduce stress, and maintain group harmony. When Poppy preens me, she’s treating me like a member of her colony, or possibly a very odd looking prairie dog who needs help. It’s equal parts affection, familiarity, and her way of saying, “You’re mine, and I approve… for now.” #prairiedog #cute #animals #fyp #funny | Poppy the Prairie Dog

Share a family meal with our prairie dog colony. #NatZooZen . . . Grasses and leafy vegetation make up 98% of the prairie dogs’ diet. As such, their food provides all of the moisture content that they need—they don’t need to drink water. The Zoo’s animals nosh on leafy greens, root vegetables, herbivore pellets, hay and grass. | Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute