Watch CBS News

Prairie Dog Vaccine Distributed In Colorado To Fight Bubonic Plague

GUNNISON, Colo. (CBS4) -- One concern about prairie dogs in Colorado is their capacity to carry fleas infected with bubonic plague. But now there's a vaccine.

prairie dog pellets
(credit: Colorado Park and Wildlife Southeast Region)

"We're gonna be out here today treating these colonies with tiny little peanut butter pellets with vaccine in them for prairie dogs to eat so they'll be vaccinated for a year," Colorado Parks and Wildlife stated. "...biologist April Estep has led a team spreading 40 pellets per acre across area colonies at dawn to vaccinate them vs plague."

prairie dog vaccine
(c

The vaccination pellets were dropped around Gunnison Wednesday.
They'll also be used in Douglas County.

prairie dog
(credit: CBS)

RELATED: Vandals Cause $100K In Damage At Prairie Dog Management Sites In Boulder County

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.