The Complex Language of Prairie Dogs

Prairie dogs have the most complex language system ever observed in animals, and their memories are terrific. When they warn each other of approaching danger, they'll tell each other that "this is the coyote that won't approach the den" or "hide away from this coyote." They’ll also tell their friends what color shirt you're wearing. We hear from an expert who uses artificial intelligence technology to decode animal communication. And we get a bonus story of the guest's family history, when his grandparents repeatedly fled dangerous Communist oppression. Guest: Con Slobodchikoff, Professor Emeritus of Biology at Northern Arizona University and the CEO of Zoolingua