The sylvatic plague has been found in huge prairie dog colony on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Two cases of the plague were discovered when ranchers and the Bureau of Indian Affairs noticed that the prairie dog population in the colony was dropping off. The colony is considered one of the largest in the world.

The risk of humans developing plague is low but the Indian Health Service and the Oglala Sioux Tribe urged residents to take precautions.

This is the second year in a row that the plague has been discovered in South Dakota.

Get the Story:
Plague may force ferrets from basin (The Rapid City Journal 8/18)

Relevant Links:
Slvatic plague, resources - http://wildlifedisease.nbii.gov/hHealth/Plague/plague.html

Related Stories:
Reservation rancher wants prairie dog controlled (11/22)