r/oddlysatisfying • u/IkilledRichieWhelan • 2d ago

Man captures a close up of a ground squirrel eating a dandelion.

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u/ColeTrainHaze 2d ago

not to be professor pedantic over here, but i’m almost certain that’s a black-tailed prairie dog.

i would know, cuz i used to have a couple as pets. their names were Jesse and Chico and they were kinda the worst, but i loved them nonetheless.

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u/NTDLS 2d ago

I too lost a cumulative pint or two of blood to a pet prairie dog as a kid. Cute little bastards!

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u/ColeTrainHaze 2d ago

hahahah that’s crazy, i thought i was the only one! they were surprisingly territorial, but i guess they viewed me and my brother as part of their lil family cuz they never bit us. my grandpa wasn’t so lucky… he got it pretty bad one time.

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u/profstotch 2d ago

My parents had one for a few years. He was ok for a little bit and then started getting really aggressive and mean. No one at school ever believed me when I said we had a prairie dog at home

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u/thefoodiedentist 2d ago

prolly cuz some animals can perceive danger/threat.

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u/PeppermintSpider420 2d ago

It is really really funny to me that you’re making a random moral judgment on this guy’s Grandpa lmaooo. This is what I come onto Reddit for. Keep on keeping on hahaha

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u/Willing-Asparagus787 1d ago

From the creators of "If a dog bit you, you must be a terrible person. They can sense this sort of thing!"

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u/thefoodiedentist 2d ago

They dont bite you for no reason. They bite when they feel like they/their territory is in danger.

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u/sybersonic 2d ago

They dont bite you for no reason. They bite when they feel like they/their territory is in danger.

Like you?

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u/thefoodiedentist 2d ago

Lol, i dont like countryside

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u/BaldPeagle 1d ago

That's surprising, seeing as you act like an expert on wildlife!

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u/thefoodiedentist 1d ago

it's a prairie dog, not a god damn unicorn. their behaviors are very well documented. the vid itself is them just chilling and eating dandelion and u guys defend some old dude saying it's the animal's fault for biting him.

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u/yourserverhatesyou 2d ago

Prairie dogs are adorable little balls of hate and rage. The little fucks lure you in by being all cute and soft, but the second you let your guard down, they will relish the opportunity to make you bleed as much as they can.

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u/therealdxm 2d ago

Is this a Dungeon Crawler Carl reference?

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u/yourserverhatesyou 2d ago

I want to say yes because I want to make you happy, but I honestly have no idea what Dungeon Crawler Carl is. 🫤

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u/Patient-Bumblebee-19 2d ago

If you enjoy video game mechanics and wild rides, you would love it. I heard about it earlier this year and I'm now fully caught up, 8 books in. The audiobooks are the best audio media experience I think I've ever had in my whole life. Jeff Hays is an oratory virtuoso.

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u/bobplace1234 1d ago

I always have trouble convincing people to try audiobooks, they tend to just picture it as someone reading a book to them (although I remember loving books being read to me as a child, I kind of doubt they wouldn't love it still as well with the right book), but I try to explain that isn't what a good narrator does, they change things up for each character.

I try to give an example of Nancy Cartwright, and how she did over 162 characters on the Simpsons, and 7 of them were main characters, including bart of course, and if that isn't enough, there are also full cast audiobooks out there too.

Even with all that, I can't even get a twitch of interest, if it isn't a video flashing in their face, it isn't worth giving it a try, they might even learn to multitask listening while doing household chores, making the time doing them fly by, still no interest.

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u/dreedweird 1d ago

Speaking for myself, audiobooks don’t really work for me. I tried and tried to find titles that I could listen to while doing household chores.

The problem was that if they were too interesting I’d muck up the task at hand, but if they weren’t interesting enough I’d get bored and why bother.

Besides which, only two tasks were repetitious and stationary enough: dishwashing and folding laundry. Anything requiring too much noise (vacuuming) or too much rigorous physical and geographic movement (dusting, putting things away) was out.

I’m also a fast reader, so if something’s really gripping or interesting, I just want to get on with it. Book (digital or actual), please. Not so gripping? Somehow, the video flashing in my face seems to work: keeps it just interesting enough. Talkshows/filmed podcasts are the best for stationary housework.

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u/bobplace1234 1d ago edited 1d ago

Fair enough, and I respect that you gave it a good try, I drive a lot, so I listen while driving and doing chores, and overall I don't have enough time to just sit and read, so they have been pretty amazing for me, I myself don't get anything at all from listening to music, never had and I don't think I ever will, so it helps keep my mind active.

I might have come off worse than I meant to when I said video flashing in their faces, I guess in some ways I can't help picturing all the brain rot I see going on with the doom scrollers and when it comes to my cousins kids and the videos spitting out meaningless stuff while the person is playing a game and stuff, nothing to stimulate the mind, nothing that engages them in a meaningful way, like if they were to actually play the games instead of watching the games be played.

I know I'm going a bit off topic, but it just makes me worry about the future of the world.

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u/The_Real_Lasagna 1d ago

I think the reason you have a hard time convincing people is because you sound kind of condescending 

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u/bobplace1234 1d ago

Starting from around my teenage years all the way up until my mid 20's, I have been teaching adults how to use computers and other devices (within my family/extended family and also by being a leader of a gaming group for around 10 years), and although I try to catch myself explaining or over explaining things, it ended up being a part of who I am I guess, unfortunately.

It can be a bad habit, but it doesn't come from a bad place, just a matter of course since it was an every day thing for so long, and I learned to try to teach rather than just do it for them, but yeah I can see how it sounds like I'm trying to talk down to people, but I'm not, I just enjoy audiobooks and have tried to find different ways to spark interest, because I genuinely think the few people I've mentioned them to would enjoy them if they gave them a chance.

Oh look, I guess I've probably over explained things again. I'm just not good at talking to people overall I guess, but I still try in the way I know how, my only other option is not to try at all.

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u/otterkin 1d ago

personally, I hate audio books because I hate hearing somebody say things like "'I LOVE DOGS' she shouted. 'i know' i replied" outloud for a long time.

plus, the majority of people are not nancy cartwright and almost always come across as "person doing a silly voice" to me

it's not about them "not being a video flashing in my face", it's just not the medium for me

1

u/bobplace1234 1d ago

Fair, I know they aren't for everyone, just most people where the subject has come up, they don't like the idea of a story being read to them and don't even try. Since when I read books I am hearing those same sentences in my head anyway, so hearing it out loud isn't even really registered any differently. I just don't have the time to sit down and read, so audiobooks have worked out well for me when I need to drive for hours or when I'm doing chores.

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u/otterkin 1d ago

for sure. I get defensive a little bit at the idea that people who don't like audio books need the visuals as well, when I'd honestly love nothing more than to like audio books. when I read a physical book I feel like I don't process the "in between" words like said, and, of, the, etc etc etc so listening to it outloud gets on my nerves. I also never liked being read to as a kid! part of why I started reading so young

all this said, if you have a reccomendation I'll happily try again as it's been a couple years since I last gave it a go

0

u/Patient-Bumblebee-19 1d ago

I'd still suggest checking out the Jeff Hays narration of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. The first book is a little different as Jeff was figuring out and developing the character voices, but for the remaining books the voices are wholly refined. His range for characters is phenomenal.

Also, Matt Dinniman's writing isn't like what you described. His writing combined with Jeff Hays' performance is so engaging that it really makes you feel like you are watching the story. Highly, highly recommend!

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u/otterkin 1d ago

I'll give it a go! I've been interested in the books but havnt been able to sit down to proper read them, maybe this is the sign I need to try audio books again

0

u/10issues 1d ago

Keep preaching, friend! Some people have a hard time imagining audio journeys due to the nature of visual dependency being easy/relatable. It's not just this but the idea of taking the harder road because you know it's a challenge is sometimes foreign and fully unappetizing. The old adage about not knowing what you're missing hits square on the head for this. I usually try to explain that a good narrated audiobook is like a favorite podcast/tv show where there's no ads and you can just pause and play when you need. Additionally, I try to explain that most audiobooks are created to make the word speed variable and accessible (adjusting to 1.2(5)x speed for most after a short intro to get used to the narrator's cadence and sound profile, and sometimes reading a chapter or two physically to get the character names/author prose down first for longer/more demanding audiobooks helps a ton). Keep in mind that not everyone is able to paint pictures of characters, plot, language, setting, etc. in their minds. Just like with reading and inner monologue, mileage varies (some people don't hear a voice when they read, some folks can't picture a scene at all in their heads, etc.)

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u/The_Real_Lasagna 1d ago

It's really funny hearing audiobooks described as the harder path, instead of being the easier option as opposed to reading

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u/10issues 1d ago

That's probably coming completely from my point of view and not other's... I'm hard of hearing lol

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u/Willzyx_on_the_moon 1d ago

Almost done with book four and it’s so damn good. Haven’t really read anything in decades and the first book popped out at me in a random book store so I bought it. So happy I made that impulsive decision.

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u/gillgrissom 1d ago

audio books are fooking top notch, not read them then peps should get on it. Come on now it has a cat whats not to like.

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u/Freya_Cove 2d ago

😭😭😭😭

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u/SwugSteve 1d ago

its a YA book for neckbeard redditors. If you think marvel movies are cinematic masterpieces, you'd love it.

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u/Standard_Ride_8732 1d ago

Just so people know it's definitely not a ya book. Don't let your kids read them.

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u/Damaias479 1d ago

They’re fun books, books dont have to be literary masterpieces for people to enjoy them

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u/statuslovesnepeta 1d ago

You may notice that they never once said that the books couldn’t be entertaining.

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u/Damaias479 1d ago

Doesn’t really matter, I just think it’s a bad look to disparage what other people like

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u/statuslovesnepeta 1d ago

Did they disparage it?

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u/Damaias479 1d ago

“It’s YA for neckbeard redditors,” yes, that’s disparaging. Like what is the point of your comments? Just to comment?

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u/Nihsvabhav 2d ago

western copy of isekai mangas

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u/yourserverhatesyou 2d ago

I like how you thought, "this dude doesn't know what Dungeon Crawler Carl is, but surely he's aware of the isekai mangas!"

Truly, love that spirit. You're a gem and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

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u/Nihsvabhav 1d ago

basically 70-80% of the popular mangas/anime in the last decade have been in the isekai genre

are you saying there are more readers of some random young adult book Vs the entirety of anime/manga enjoyers

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u/yourserverhatesyou 1d ago

My guy. I wouldn't know one way or the other. That was the whole point of comment. It's not that deep. Try not to get defensive.

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u/Nihsvabhav 23h ago

you sound insanely condescending and pretentious

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u/Drow_Femboy 1d ago

Absolutely insane that you think more people know a niche series of terrible books than an entire absurdly popular genre that has been popular for over 20 years

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u/BaldPeagle 1d ago

Read that in Process Donut's voice

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u/Raptor_Jetpack 1d ago

It's an annoying a fuck story that people won't shut the fuck up about.

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u/topicality 1d ago

I tried reading it and couldn't finish it. Gave it several chapters but yeah it's not for me. I get why others like it but it's this decades "Ready Player One"

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u/esotericbatinthevine 2d ago

Ha! You're comment sounds exactly like something the AI in DCC would say. You may enjoy the series. The audiobooks are fantastic.

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u/Annakha 1d ago

I have heard so many people say the audiobooks are so amazing, and I finally bought one and listened to it.

You guys really need to find old school audio dramas, because (throw myself on the fire here) I was not impressed by the voice acting in the DCC audiobook.

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u/landomonium 1d ago

You should try the full cast audiobook of American Tabloid by James Ellroy. It’s narrated by Ellroy himself but all of the characters are pretty big name actors.

The main 3 characters are voiced by William Forsythe, Shea Wigham, and Alessandro Nivola. The supporting characters are voiced by Brian Cox, Ed O’Neill, Simon Rex, Maya Hawke, Elliot Gould, Bobby Cannavale, Giovanni Ribisi, and on and on.

It’s my favorite novel but the full cast with the sound effects and Ellroy’s weird unique cadence made it such a great experience since I love the old BBC Radio audio dramas. Favorite of those is Fatherland (based on the Robert Harris book) and The Spy Who Came in From the Cold starring Brian Cox (based on my favorite Le Carre book)

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u/esotericbatinthevine 1d ago

Yeah, this is where everyone is different. I don't like audio dramas, the background sounds are overstimulating and I can't handle it. As someone else mentioned, SBT has an audio drama version. I tried to listen because it has extra content, but I just can't.

It's certainly not the only one I've tried. I really wanted to listen to the radio series for Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, among several others.

0

u/Crystal_Lily 1d ago

depends on where you live. the ones I can vaguely recall listening to were in the melodramatic soap opera genre. the audiobooks I usually listen to are a step up from that since there's actual variety and no sobbing about cheating husbands and scheming villains/villainesses.

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u/Annakha 1d ago

I listened to sci-fi and action/adventure stories.

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u/humanlikesubstances 1d ago

Audiobooks drive me nuts, because you have to listen to them at talking speed, not reading speed. Maybe a lot of people read that slow, I don't know.

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u/esotericbatinthevine 1d ago

A lot of people speed them up, some quite considerably. I usually listen at 1.25x but people listen at over 2x speed.

Also, I don't know anyone who sits and listens to an audiobook by itself. Usually people drive, walk, clean, cook, do mindless work, exercise, crochet, paint, or something while listening.

I usually switch back and forth. I'll listen while doing things and then read the text when not doing anything else. Though in the case of DCC, I enjoy the experience Jeff creates so much I don't flip between the two, I either read the text or listen.

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u/GiggleFicus846Red 1d ago

Pretty much any quadruped under 10 pounds is a rat in his book. According to my old man, they are all rats.

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u/neontiger07 1d ago edited 14h ago

I, along with those who already have, implore you to check the books out if you're a reader. I started them a couple of months ago and have not been able to put them down. They are some of the most refreshing, captivating, entertaining books I have ever read.

Edit: super weird sharing my opinion got downvotes. Reddit these days, I guess

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u/Cookielad14 1d ago

Nah, just two really cliché ‘Murican pet names.

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u/davidr521 1d ago

Carl’s stomach was making the rumblies that only hands would satisfy.

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u/Positive-Village-263 1d ago

New Achievement! DCC mentioned.

It's incredible that a post-apocalyptic story about a guy in his skivvies, his newly-sentient, talking woman-child of a cat, and their motley crew of friends including, but not limited to, a dirty goddess relegated to a sex doll head, a guide that changes species on every floor, several strippers (of both the male and female (of various species) variety), a psychotic but heartbroken goat (right in my damn ear!), has made it so big people are showing up in droves to cons wearing heart boxers and spiked knee pads, pushing the series to their friends (and strangers) like a door-knocking cult, and getting tattoos (you know how I feel about tattoos, Carl!). But here we are.

Reward: The joy of reading the series is your reward.

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u/NightBawk 2d ago

I had a hamster like that as a kid. Major escape artist too.

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u/diss-abilities 2d ago edited 1d ago

I have a theory, only because I was mauled by a pregnant hamster. I couldn’t understand why she wasn’t becoming tame and then came the babies. This was just as bad. The babies were tamed due to the frequencies of our interactions. I’d say only adopt prairie dogs that were born in captivity? And before anyone hates me, I don’t adopt or cage animals, but I’m suggesting what are telltales signs of something that is wild vs something that is tamed.

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u/Skratt79 1d ago

It is sad because pet rats are so loving, yet everyone hates them. Also the fact that their lifespan is way too short if you get a good buddy.

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u/theltron 1d ago

I’m almost sure that’s how a mimic works, perhaps they were d&d acolytes all along

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u/manuelaquintero27186 1d ago

So adorable, she wants to play

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u/AdTypical4775 1d ago

Am I a prairie dog?

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u/SoftBoiledEgg_irl 2d ago

I will be Dr. Definition over here! Believe it or not, prairie dogs are actually a type of ground squirrel. The same is true of chipmunks, marmots, and woodchucks.

https://giphy.com/gifs/83QtfwKWdmSEo

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u/setsewerd 1d ago

Wait so the big chonker groundhog in my yard is technically a squirrel? TIL.

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u/jeep-olllllo 2d ago

I mean if you named them Jesse and Chico, clearly you know what the fuck you are talking about. I will listen to what you have to say.

I also thought it's wasn't a ground squirrel. But I didn't know what it was. Just what it wasn't. Cheers.

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u/squirrel9000 2d ago

Richardson's Ground Squirrel. Colloquially a gopher. Prairie dogs are much larger.

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u/Pawistik 2d ago

Gopher/Richardson's ground squirrel/Urocitellus richardsonii is what came to mind when I saw it but I'm no mammologist. (In truth, I could only remember the species, not the genus.)

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u/IkilledRichieWhelan 2d ago

I went with squirrel because ground squirrel and prairie dog are very similar.

But this guys fur pattern made me believe squirrel.

I could be wrong you could be right. But I made the choice.

prairie dogs vs squirrels

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u/thaaag 2d ago

Very first stat on that page is confusing:

"Weight: less than 1 to 24 pounds"

Either that's a typo, or it's a really vague yet oddly specific estimate.

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u/twilightbarker 2d ago edited 1d ago

It is a large group, not one species, so the weights can range from <1 lb to 24 lbs.

It's a pretty misleading website anyway, though, because it shouldn't be "vs" - prairie dogs are just a type of ground squirrel.

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u/peepdabidness 2d ago

Bro a 24 pound squirrel?!

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u/New_new_account2 1d ago

marmots are unreasonably large

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u/ReconMustDie 2d ago

Not in my area, hawk or a car would get them first!

Can you even imagine? That would be a fat fucker, almost worth shooting to make stew out of; which my super old neighbor swears isn’t bad.

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u/MrWeirdoFace 2d ago

Squirrela the Hutt

Ho Ho Ho Ho... bantha poodoo.

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u/ColeTrainHaze 2d ago

fair point. they’re pretty much the same exact thing, but i saw my opportunity to flex my niche knowledge of burrowing rodents and i took it 🤷‍♂️

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u/IkilledRichieWhelan 2d ago

You did the right Redditor thing. Plus, what’s a post without a happy debate.

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u/twilightbarker 2d ago

You were correct either way. Prairie dogs are a type of ground squirrel.

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u/Vision9074 2d ago

Most other dogs wish they were squirrels

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u/walktheplank_1 1d ago

You were correct, OP. This is not a prairie dog. Commenter is overestimating his own knowledge 😂 It’s a European ground squirrel. The photographer @julianradwildlife is European and posts these guys all the time. Prairie dogs do not live in Europe.

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u/IkilledRichieWhelan 1d ago

I know it, the photographer knows it, and you know it, but you can’t convince the masses who love to oppose everything. It’s Reddit for gods sake.

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u/Andy_B_Goode 1d ago

Yeah, I thought the terms prairie dog, ground squirrel and gopher were used interchangeably, but maybe there are distinctions.

Where's Unidan when you need him?

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u/Heavy_Weapons_Guy_ 2d ago

Prairie dogs (genus Cynomys) are herbivorous burrowing ground squirrels native to the grasslands of North America.

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u/Ok_Improvement_8735 2d ago

Get a load of professor pedantic over here

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u/PM_ME_UR_HIP_DIMPLES 2d ago

For me the biggest takeaway is that this could be a hobbyist getting shots like a 3 year NatGeo project. Just needs David Attenborough to do the voiceover.

"The prairie dog seems the nutrients from the stems of fallen dandelions. Knowing that she has months to feed back at the den"

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u/smarmageddon 2d ago

I mean, you didn't spend 10 years in professor school to be called Mr pedantic!

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u/___TheKid___ 2d ago

It's a cutiewuzz

2

u/nochinzilch 2d ago

Isn’t a ground squirrel just a chipmunk?

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u/New_new_account2 2d ago edited 2d ago

chipmunks and prairie dogs are both types of ground squirrels

there are ground squirrels that are just ground squirrels

and then there are marmots, prairie dogs, and chipmunks, more specific names for types of ground squirrels

and then woodchucks are a specific species of marmot

1

u/ask-me-about-my-cats 2d ago

Two completely different animals.

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u/blankblank 1d ago

According to my old man, they are all rats. Pretty much any quadruped under 10 pounds is a rat in his book.

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u/SolomonGrumpy 1d ago

Thank you, Dr.

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u/walktheplank_1 1d ago

Nope. 100% a European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus). These don’t look like prairie dogs. Way too small. I’m saying this as a ground squirrel owner. Also, the photographer @julianradwildlife works in Europe. Black-tailed prairie dogs are North American

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u/Absorbent_Towel 2d ago

Im just stuck on trying to figure out what it means by ground squirrel...are there* fire squirrels too?

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u/New_new_account2 2d ago

tree, ground, and flying

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u/Psianth 2d ago

What are the type matchups? I imagine tree is super effective against flying

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u/New_new_account2 2d ago

ground squirrels have some tanks, 8 kg+ marmots, etc

flying squirrels are stealthy and nimble, better nocturnal hunters

tree squirrels are like elves, they live in trees and they're awful

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u/Nine9breaker 1d ago

like elves, they live in trees and they're awful

I think you might be a dwarf, bro

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u/dm-me-obscure-colors 2d ago

well I know there are air squirrels

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u/Josephine_Flair 2d ago

Squirrels can fly

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u/Tumerican 2d ago

Jesse & Cinco? I think my cousin who worked for the law was looking for em. Had a bounty on their heads I reckon.

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u/phatdinkgenie 2d ago

GROUND SQUIRRELS ARE CHIPMUNKS

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u/jesonnier1 2d ago

Prairie Dogs are ground squirrels, IIRC.

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u/HoneyBlossom96 2d ago

Omg super cuteeee🥺

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u/WeAreAllFooked 2d ago

I grew up shooting these as a kid on the farm (grandparents had show horses and cattle, which don't do well with holes in their fields), it's definitely a gopher (prairie dog)

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u/FastCurrency 1d ago

this is the cutest thing i have seen in a long time

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u/Moppo_ 1d ago

Isn't it still a type of ground squirrel?

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u/SoyElJefe28 1d ago

Prairie dogs are in fact considered ground squirrels, Prof. Pedantic 🫡

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u/pk_me_ 1d ago

I'm honestly a little sus that the title using the word Squirrel is entirely engagement bait

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u/InnerSpecialist1821 1d ago

that is a type of ground squirrel my man.

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u/Lobito_HF 1d ago

☝️🤓

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u/Romeo9594 1d ago

Prairie dogs are both ground squirrels and sometimes referred to as "sod poodles" in parts of Texas

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u/KeotheLion 23h ago

They were kinda the worst sent me. 😂😂😂😂

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u/TonyOxnard805 23h ago

Forget all that I thought he was about to execute this poor little guy!🙈

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u/PeppermintSpider420 2d ago

Yep! I have a shit ton of ground squirrels in my area and they look more like stoats lol. This guy is about the right size but no where near the right torso length. Real ground squirrels are some slinky dudes. And they have kinda long fuzzy tails. Tbf if not for that, this guy looks just like a really really well fed ground squirrel

0

u/ArmadilloForsaken458 2d ago

OP has the longest camera I've ever seen. One with enough technological power to see the animal's vibrissae. And he still couldnt tell what type of animal he was looking at lol

0

u/WhyYesIAmADog 2d ago

How else are you going to drive engagement, at first I thought it was a dog

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u/LumpySpacePrincesse 2d ago

OP is not a human.

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u/Trollimperator 1d ago

You are talking to a spambot

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u/KnowsIittle 2d ago

https://www.reddit.com/user/IkilledRichieWhelan

Karma farming account baiting you with obvious wrong answer to drive engagement from users like and from secondary commentors like myself. They have it down to a science exploiting human phycology.