SmallCaliberCentral

Be healthy! Prairie dogs are susceptible to sylvatic plague, and most are host to fleas. Don’t handle prairie dogs or other nongame wildlife unless you have to. If you do, wear rubber gloves but the best policy is don't as I have seen many prairie dog hunters with pictures of them holding up their kills.

http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/regs/nongameShooting.html

JBinMontana wrote:Be healthy! Prairie dogs are susceptible to sylvatic plague, and most are host to fleas. Don’t handle prairie dogs or other nongame wildlife unless you have to. If you do, wear rubber gloves but the best policy is don't as I have seen many prairie dog hunters with pictures of them holding up their kills.

<span><a href="http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/regs/nongameShooting.html" class="smarterwiki-linkify">http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/regs/nongameS ... </a></span>

Great advice.....

I cringe when I see some of the photos posted on the internet, especially when young folks are concerned.

All wild animals carry the threat of disease and infections to the human body. If you have to handle one, even animals like fox and coyotes that carry fleas and mites, use good leather gloves and avoid all exposure/touching of clothing, etc. if possible.

The mite that causes mange in coyotes by breaking down a coyote's immune system is generally not contagious to humans in that it will generally not cause mange in humans. None the less, a human can become infested with these mites which prefer to live in hair follicles in and around the eyes and eyebrows. Not a good thing in itself...

-BCB

Edited for clarity....