Plague strikes SD prairie dogs
Posted: Wednesday, September 26, 2007
SCENIC, S.D. (AP) -- The prairie dog population in eastern Fall River County has been decimated, and officials believe the plague is responsible.
Prairie dog deaths in the area make it less attractive for reintroduction of the endangered black-footed ferret, which preys on prairie dogs.
However, plague still has not been found in Conata Basin near Badlands National Park, which is the site of the most successful black-footed ferret reintroduction in the nation.
Plague, known as sylvatic plague, first was confirmed in western South Dakota almost three years ago when a rancher found a sick prairie dog in extreme southwestern Custer County.
After that, plague killed thousands of prairie dogs in a complex north of Oglala on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Until then, it had been decades since the plague was confirmed in South Dakota.
Since that time, there have been smaller outbreaks near Oglala, at a community northeast of Pine Ridge, another near the Prairie Wind Casino, and at an other location, said Trudy Ecoffey, Oglala Sioux Tribe Parks and Recreation Department senior biologist.
The plague in prairie dogs generally does not pose a widespread threat to humans.
Ecoffey estimated plague has hit 30,000 acres of prairie dogs and that pockets of the animals have started showing up again at the complex north of Oglala.
Fall River District Ranger Mike McNeill suspects plague has spread west and killed many prairie dogs in eastern Fall River County on the Buffalo Gap National Grassland -- in the midst of an area that has been targeted for a ferret reintroduction.
About half of 900-1,200 acres in the area occupied by prairie dogs a year or two ago have the animals now, said Scott Larson of Pierre, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologist.
He did not rule out the Fall River County area for a future ferret reintroduction. "We probably have better sites now than Smithwick. It might look entirely different in five years," Larson said.
The ferrets, once thought to be extinct, prey on prairie dogs and can get plague by eating prairie dogs that have died of the disease. Ferrets also can get it from fleas that carry the organism.
Prairie dog plague has hurt black-footed ferret reintroductions in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and Utah, Fish and Wildlife Service officials have said.
Prairie dog deaths in the area make it less attractive for reintroduction of the endangered black-footed ferret, which preys on prairie dogs.
However, plague still has not been found in Conata Basin near Badlands National Park, which is the site of the most successful black-footed ferret reintroduction in the nation.
Plague, known as sylvatic plague, first was confirmed in western South Dakota almost three years ago when a rancher found a sick prairie dog in extreme southwestern Custer County.
After that, plague killed thousands of prairie dogs in a complex north of Oglala on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Until then, it had been decades since the plague was confirmed in South Dakota.
Since that time, there have been smaller outbreaks near Oglala, at a community northeast of Pine Ridge, another near the Prairie Wind Casino, and at an other location, said Trudy Ecoffey, Oglala Sioux Tribe Parks and Recreation Department senior biologist.
The plague in prairie dogs generally does not pose a widespread threat to humans.
Ecoffey estimated plague has hit 30,000 acres of prairie dogs and that pockets of the animals have started showing up again at the complex north of Oglala.
Fall River District Ranger Mike McNeill suspects plague has spread west and killed many prairie dogs in eastern Fall River County on the Buffalo Gap National Grassland -- in the midst of an area that has been targeted for a ferret reintroduction.
About half of 900-1,200 acres in the area occupied by prairie dogs a year or two ago have the animals now, said Scott Larson of Pierre, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologist.
He did not rule out the Fall River County area for a future ferret reintroduction. "We probably have better sites now than Smithwick. It might look entirely different in five years," Larson said.
The ferrets, once thought to be extinct, prey on prairie dogs and can get plague by eating prairie dogs that have died of the disease. Ferrets also can get it from fleas that carry the organism.
Prairie dog plague has hurt black-footed ferret reintroductions in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and Utah, Fish and Wildlife Service officials have said.
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