Prairie Dog Diseases and the Threat to Ecosystems

Prairie dogs are highly social animals, living in large colonies with complex communication systems, but they're also vulnerable to diseases that can have a significant impact on their populations and the ecosystems they inhabit.

The plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is a major threat to prairie dog populations, and it's often transmitted through the bites of infected fleas.

Prairie dogs are also susceptible to sylvatic plague, a more severe form of the disease that can spread quickly through a colony.

In addition to the plague, prairie dogs are also at risk from other diseases, including tularemia and leptospirosis.

A vaccine has been created to protect prairie dogs and the species that depend on them from the plague.

The vaccine involves injecting pellets with the vaccine and spreading them out to colonies for the small mammals to eat.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now treating prairie dogs all over Colorado to prevent the spread of the plague to human populations.

This treatment has proved effective in protecting prairie dogs and preventing the spread of the disease.

The plague has the potential to wipe out entire prairie dog colonies, which would be detrimental to the black-footed ferret population that depends on them for food and shelter.

Prairie dog diseases have a significant impact on these social animals. They can lead to the decline of entire colonies.

One of the most common diseases affecting prairie dogs is plague, which can spread quickly through direct contact with an infected animal's bodily fluids. This can happen when they groom each other or share food and water.

The plague can also be transmitted through the bites of infected fleas, which can jump from one prairie dog to another. This highlights the importance of controlling flea populations in prairie dog colonies.

Prairie dogs with plague often exhibit symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, fever, and lethargy. These symptoms can progress rapidly, leading to death if left untreated.

On a similar theme: Dog Diseases and Symptoms

The sad truth about plague is that it's a real risk, especially for people living near infected areas.

Plague-infected prairie dogs can carry the disease for a long time without showing symptoms, making them a silent threat.

In fact, a 2011 scientific article found that plague epizootics in prairie dog towns result in a staggering >95% reduction of populations.

This means that if you live near a prairie dog town, it's crucial to take precautions to avoid exposure.

The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recommend avoiding handling dead animals, wearing insect repellent, using flea-control products on pets, and avoiding feeding wildlife, especially prairie dogs and other rodents.

If you have pets, be sure to take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible if they get sick.

The good news is that the risk of getting plague is relatively low, with between one and 17 cases reported yearly in humans.

However, it's still essential to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Related reading: Do Prairie Dogs Make Good Pets

The sad reality is that a plague outbreak has caused a complete die-off of approximately 150 acres of prairie dog colonies.

This is a significant loss, especially for the prairie dogs that lived in those areas.

Most of the dead prairie dogs will die in their burrows, and the remaining dead animals will be consumed by nature.

Refuge employees don't handle dead animals unless they're in areas where visitors might encounter them.

Luckily, the colonies will come back in a year or two, so there's hope for the prairie dogs' recovery.

The good news is that there are still healthy prairie dog colonies all over Denver, and you can see them everywhere if you look closely.

The changing ecosystem in Denver is a fascinating topic. A wet and cooler summer is believed to have caused the current plague outbreak, as fleas thrive in moist burrow conditions.

Dr. Hartley's research suggests that a climatic event like El Niño, which occurred in 2019, may be associated with the plague epizootic. This event brought a wetter and cooler spring and early summer.

Denver residents are not the ones who should be worried about plague, as it is rare in humans and treatable. On average, there are only 7 cases per year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The real concern is for the four-legged variety, as they are overwhelmingly the ones affected by the plague.

Plague is a common issue in Colorado prairie dog colonies, occurring approximately every five to seven years in colonies on the plains and less frequently in suburban colonies.

The Tri-County Health Department issued a press release on Aug. 1, 2019, announcing that plague had been confirmed in prairie dogs at numerous sites in Commerce City.

Plague can be a serious illness in humans, but it's treated effectively with antibiotics, as stated by Dr. John M. Douglas, Jr., Executive Director of Tri-County Health Department.

In 2019, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal closed as a precautionary measure to prioritize visitor health and safety after approximately 10 dead prairie dogs were found on July 22.

The CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Lab confirmed that two of the dead prairie dogs had plague on July 31, 2019, triggering a swift response from the national wildlife refuge and local authorities.

Plague is caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium, according to Laurel Hartley, PhD, an ecologist who studies the impact of introduced bubonic plague on prairie dog communities.

Managing plague in prairie dog colonies can be done safely with insecticides to kill the fleas that spread the disease, as stated by Dr. Douglas.

Prairie dogs are highly social animals that live in complex societies with distinct castes and hierarchies. They are known to be one of the most social rodents in North America.

Their social behavior is closely tied to their biology, with their large eyes and sensitive hearing allowing them to detect even the slightest changes in their surroundings. They are also highly communicative, using a variety of vocalizations and body language to convey information.

Prairie dogs are susceptible to diseases that can have a significant impact on their populations, including bubonic plague, which is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. This disease is typically transmitted through the bites of infected fleas.

Their social behavior also makes them more vulnerable to disease transmission, as they often live in close proximity to one another.