Data on long-term flea control using fipronil grain bait with black-tailed prairie dogs, South Dakota, 2020-2022

We collected fleas from black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) on Buffalo Gap National Grassland and Badlands National Park, South Dakota, 2020-2022. We anesthetized trapped prairie dogs (and their fleas) with isoflurane in induction chambers for processing. We combed each individual with a fine-tooth comb for 30 seconds to remove and count fleas. We released all animals, after they were recovered from anesthesia, at the location where they were captured. Total flea counts from individual prairie dogs were considered an index of flea abundance. During 2018-2020, we provided prairie dogs on 21 sites with grain bait, laced with fipronil (0.005% by weight) by placing 1/2 cup or 1/4 cup of grain at each prairie dog burrow opening [...]