Plague threatens prairie dogs, endangered ferrets

By CHET BROKAW , Associated Press Writer, General Science / Biology

David Jachowski sprays insecticide dust into a prairie dog burrow on the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands with the spires of Badlands National Park in the background, July 14, 2008. Jachowski and three others are spraying to kill fleas that have spread the plague to prairie dogs and endangered black-footed ferrets. (AP Photo/Chet Brokaw)

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(AP) -- On the grasslands a few miles from the pinnacles and spires of Badlands National Park, federal wildlife officials have been waging a war since spring to save one of the nation's largest colonies of endangered black-footed ferrets.

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Posted by bobwinners 08/31/08 17:05

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What a shame. I'll bet that most ranchers and farmers would love to see the prairie dog population cut be a healthy number... pardon the pun.. Poor ferrets!