Yersinia pestis]]> Cynomys sp.) populations have occurred, and the largest limiting factor in recent decades appears to be the high mortality and colony extirpation associated with plague (Antolin et al. 2002), caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Prairie dog colonies support a diverse community of associated species, many of which are not susceptible to plague but may be indirectly affected.]]> No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only]]>