Mitigating plague risk in Utah prairie dogs: evaluation of a systemic flea-control product

Published source details Jachowski D.S., Brown N.L., Wehtje M., Tripp D.W., Millspaugh J.J. & Gompper M.E. (2012) Mitigating plague risk in Utah prairie dogs: evaluation of a systemic flea-control product. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 36, 167-175.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Control ticks/fleas/lice in wild mammal populations Action Link

Control ticks/fleas/lice in wild mammal populations

A replicated, paired sites, controlled study in 2009–2010 on six grasslands in Utah, USA (Jachowski et al. 2012) found that following treatment with a grain-bait insecticide product, there was no consistent reduction in flea burdens on Utah prairie dogs Cynomys parvidens. After one summer, fewer fleas were recorded on prairie dogs in treated than untreated colonies at two sites, there was no difference at one site and more fleas were recorded in treated than untreated colonies at one site. After the second summer (with treatments applied twice) there were fewer fleas on prairie dogs in treated than untreated colonies at one site and no difference at two sites. See paper for full data. At six sites with prairie dog colonies, treatment and control plots were established, covering 2–190 ha, depending on animal density. Four sites were monitored in 2009 and three in 2010. In 2009, 56 g of imidacloprid-treated oat grain bait (Kaput®) was scattered within 2.4 m of each burrow in treatment colonies, once in May–June. Imidacloprid is an insecticide that can reduce burdens of fleas and, thus, reduce the risk of transmission of plague. In 2010, the treatment was applied twice, five days apart, in April–May. Prairie dogs were trapped monthly, using 100 live traps for five days in both treatment and control areas at each site, in June–October, and combed to count fleas.

(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)