MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Veterinarians are reminding pet owners in Hutchinson to be cautious around prairie dog colonies because fleas carried by the animals can transmit bubonic plague.
During a recent interview, Dr. Jon Austin of the Hutchinson Small Animal Hospital said the fleas found on prairie dogs can carry Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for bubonic plague.
Austin said Hutchinson has several prairie dog colonies, including one near the area around Petco at the Hutchinson Mall, where many residents take their pets.
He urged pet owners to avoid letting dogs roam through prairie dog colonies or chase the animals, warning that infected fleas could jump onto pets and potentially spread disease.
“People need to be aware that the fleas on prairie dogs can carry and transmit the bacterium that creates bubonic plague,” Austin said.
Austin recommended keeping pets on a leash and moving them directly into stores or away from prairie dog areas rather than allowing them to explore nearby colonies.
While cases of plague are rare, health officials in western states periodically report infections in animals and humans linked to fleas from wild rodents, including prairie dogs.
Austin said the warning is meant as a precaution for pet owners as warmer weather increases flea activity across the region.