Plague once struck mortal fear in humans, but it's a thing of the past, right? Not so, according to research published in a special issue of the journal Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, which focused solely on plague.

Originally, prairie dogs thrived only in places overgrazed by native animals. Populations expanded as European settlers arrived. As buffalo numbers dwindled due to overhunting and before the range was stocked with domestic livestock, prairie dog populations started to decline. Over the years, rangelands were fenced, ponds constructed, and large areas plowed. Remaining rangelands were overgrazed, and prairie dogs inhabited an estimated 2 million acres by the early 1900s. Prairie dog management programs and control laws were implemented, some of which remain in effect today.

 

As a part time resident and avid pedestrian of Angel Fire I feel it is my responsibility to alert the bureaucracy, residents, and businesspeople of Angel Fire about the challenges and problems that face this truly special community of ours.