Health officials in southern Colorado are now investigating a troubling mass die-off of prairie dogs, as they suspect it may signal the presence of plague.
The La Plata County Public Health Department says that once-active prairie dog colonies in the county have suddenly shown little to no activity. Although no lab tests have yet confirmed plague, the sudden collapse of multiple colonies has raised serious concern among officials.
The word “plague” often brings to mind medieval history, but in modern times, it persists, though in a more manageable form. The bacteria behind plague can manifest in different forms: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic. It is typically spread by fleas that infest wild rodents and other small mammals. Fleas may jump to pets or humans when they come into contact with infected animals or their remains.
Officials explain that plague is “frequently detected” in ground squirrels, prairie dogs, wood rats, chipmunks, and similar rodents. The public health department states that their field investigation in recent weeks has heightened suspicion of plague presence in the area. They warn that there might be additional exposures on both public and private lands that have not yet been discovered.
To reduce risk, the department urges residents not to try killing prairie dogs themselves; this can stir up fleas and increase exposure risk. Instead, they recommend wearing insect repellent, using appropriate clothing outdoors, keeping pets away from wildlife, and protecting them with flea prevention. People also should avoid handling wild animals or carcasses, and treat known rodent sites around homes with safe insecticides.
Symptoms of plague include sudden fever with chills, a bad headache, muscle pains, nausea, and general weakness. If identified quickly, plague can be treated with antibiotics, but delay may lead to serious complications. Because pets can also get infected and pass it to humans, officials say any pet with a high fever or swelling of lymph nodes should see a veterinarian immediately.
So far this year, Colorado has not reported any human plague cases. Last year, a confirmed case occurred in Pueblo County, and in 2021, a girl in La Plata County died from plague. The current investigation continues, as public health workers try to confirm whether this die-off signals a real outbreak or a false alarm.
