PRAIRIE DOGS & PLAGUE

Facts:
Contrary to popular belief, prairie dogs DO NOT CARRY PLAGUE. Plague is a non-native disease introduced to the west by settlers near the turn of the century. Thus, prairie dogs have virtually no immunity to the infection, and are the victim as opposed to the cause. Seventy-six species of mammals carry plague, but it is primarily a disease of rodents other than prairie dogs.1 The fleas that carry plague are brought into prairie dog towns by other animals. Once afflicted, an entire small town, or nearly all of a large town may be completely wiped out in only 2 to 3 days. If you see an active prairie dog colony, plague is not present.

Human Health:
Proven cases of human plague contracted from prairie dogs are virtually non-existent. The Centers for Disease Control and the Colorado Department of Health continually reinforce this fact. The CDC’s official position on destroying Prairie Dogs to control plague is, “We do not recommend routine destruction of prairie dog colonies.”2 One CDC report specifically on plague says, “human cases resulting from prairie dog plague are relatively few…and result from direct contact with an infected animal…Opisocrostis spp. (the fleas), may be reluctant to bite humans”.3 Apparently, prairie dog fleas do not like human hosts, preferring to bite other animal species.1 In Colorado, fewer than seven cases of plague have been associated with prairie dog colonies.4 In contrast, everyone who regularly works with prairie dogs is healthy. Fleas will only seek a new host if the original host is deceased. For this reason, The Colorado Department of Health states, “…poisoning of burrowing rodents should not be routinely employed because this could release fleas into the environment and cause an increased risk to humans and pets.”5 Since plague is the only disease of which prairie dogs are victim to, they are probably the most benign of any species in regard to their threat to human health. Although rare, if a human contracts plague, it is not synonymous with death. The disease can be treated with modern antibiotics, and recovery rate is high.

Prairie Dog Populations:
Plague is just one of the numerous dangers to the prairie dog ecosystem. Over 150 species depend on this remarkable mammal. Their populations continue to plummet at such a fast placed rate that the National Wildlife Federation petitioned for their protection as a Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act. In February 2000, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared the prairie dog to warrant protection, but are precluded.

What Can Be Done?

Discourage lethal prairie dog control.
Be responsible stewards of companion animals.
Instruct people to avoid corpses of prairie dogs.
Routinely apply a flea control substance to prairie dog burrows.
With all of the real dangers in this world, keep things in perspective.

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service ‘Plague and Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs’, March 23, 1999

Reply letter to PECA regarding official position of the CDC on prairie dogs and plague, Kathleen Orloski, DVM, MS, Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, April 26, 1995

Centers for Disease Control Morbidity Weekly Report ‘Human Plague’, April 8, 1994; Vol. 43, No.13

Rocky Mountain News Spotlight article, ‘Dogs of War’ quoting John Pape, Infectious Disease Specialist for the Colorado Dept. of Health, May 4, 1998

Colorado Department of Health brochure ‘Facts About Plague’, 1993