In urban areas, garden crops, flowers, ornamentals and lawns are damaged by eating and burrowing. In rural areas agricultural crops and pasture are the chief areas of damage. Both ground squirrels and prairie dogs are hosts to the fleas that may transmit bubonic plague. Rodent die-offs may signal plague in a ground squirrel or prairie dog population. Pets, especially cats, have been a source of infected fleas. Pets feeding on dead or dying animals may pick up the fleas and bring them home. Your pets and ultimately you can be protected by controlling fleas on your pets.
