Black-tailed prairie dogs at Roberts Prairie Dog Town, Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA

Life hidden beneath the prairie. Black-tailed prairie dogs, Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA

If you think small creatures can't make a big impact, you clearly haven't met the residents of Roberts Prairie Dog Town in Badlands National Park, in South Dakota, United States. These black-tailed prairie dogs are tiny, furry and endlessly entertaining. The town is one of the park's largest prairie dog colonies, where hundreds of these social rodents scurry, dig and 'bark' at passing visitors. Each prairie dog has a role—lookouts scan for predators while others maintain intricate burrow systems that can stretch up to 10 metres in length.

Once labelled as pests, these animals are now recognised as keystone species. Their digging aerates the soil, helping plants grow, while their burrows provide homes for other wildlife like burrowing owls and snakes. Watching the colony in action is a show in itself. Prairie dogs greet each other by touching their front teeth together, a behaviour commonly referred to as a 'kiss,' and engage in playful wrestling matches. Visitors often find themselves mesmerised by the constant motion, as prairie dogs pop in and out of their burrows, always alert and always busy.