Hey Reader,
Let’s talk about the plague. You know, that pesky little disease that wiped out somewhere between 25 and 60% of Europe’s population in the 14th century. Plague goes by “fun” names such as bubonic plague, black death, or Yersinia pestis. No matter what you call it, none of them sound like something you’d like to catch.
Thankfully, we don’t live in the Middle Ages, and even if we do, for some reason, catch the plague, modern medicine has greatly reduced the mortality rate. But even so, you don’t the best way to ensure you don’t die of plague is not to get it.
You might be wondering why we are discussing the plague in a newsletter about the National Parks.
Well, the National Parks have a confirmed case of the plague. Thankfully, it's not something you need to be hugely worried about, it’s one case, and it is in a prairie dog within the Badlands-Conata Ecosystem in South Dakota (this includes Badlands National Park).
This is a good reminder to avoid contact with wildlife because they can pass illness on to us.
NPS also suggests the following:
- Wear insect repellent when working or recreating outdoors. Wear long pants tucked into socks and closed-toe shoes.
- Never touch or approach a sick or dead animal, and never feed wildlife.
- Do not pitch tents near rodent burrows.
- Keep pets leashed and current on a flea and tick preventative.
- Know the signs and symptoms of plague. If you develop fever, chills, or swelling at the site of an insect bite or nearby lymph node, seek medical care immediately and inform your doctor you may have been exposed to plague.
NPS doesn't test every dead prairie dog for plague. So, a big announcement that they have a single confirmed case and will treat the animals seems odd. It is, and it isn't.
The real reason for the announcement and the only reason they checked the dead prairie dog for plague is that it was found in an area that NPS and conservation staff are monitoring for black-footed ferrets.
The black-footed ferret is a highly endangered species (that was considered extinct at one point until a small colony was found and they started reintroduction project) whose main food source is prairie dogs. These ferret areas are also the only reason NPS is taking action to prevent plague in the prairie dogs.
Happy Adventures,
P.S. Here are a few links you might find helpful in your trip planning.