Wisconsin bans prairie-dog sales after 14 people sickened from exposure

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | June 6, 2003 | JENNY PRICE

[FairOpinion]

Wisconsin health officials ordered a ban Friday on the sale, importation and display of prairie dogs after a dozen people were sickened from exposure to the animals.

Health officials said all 12 people in Wisconsin had recovered or were getting better, although three remained in a suburban Milwaukee hospital Friday in satisfactory condition. Two other people were sickened in Illinois.

[FairOpinion]

Well, that could be one way to transmit illnesses easily, through animals.

[rontorr]

oh no, Amercan Prairie Dog SARS there is probably a connection, and not good

[goldstategop]

The little critters look cute but there's a downside.

[FairOpinion]

[blam]

I just don't know how I survive, Sickness everywhere.

[IncPen]

I just don't know how I survive, Sickness everywhere.

Life just isn't safe, anymore, blam...

[blam]

"Life just isn't safe, anymore, blam..."

Yup, I think I'll just go hide in the woods. Oh wait, I'm already there, lol.

[Cachelot]

Well, that could be one way to transmit illnesses easily, through animals.

Yes. One of the earliest methods, at that, if you count insects. The Japanese tried it against the Chinese way back before the war - they would send balloons carrying boxes of various disease-carrying insects. And the western nation actually first to pick up on it was Canada.

[Vinnie]

Be sure to roast them to an internal temperture of 185 degrees.

Then they are safe. ( taste just like cat)

[Graewoulf]

" -- sold -- at a swap meet in Wausau." Maybe the Wausau Chilli was the culprit?

[Future Useless Eater]

MILWAUKEE - As researchers in Wausau and Green Bay theorize that the source of the mysterious illness may be the masked prairie dog, a top local delicacy has suddenly become a state-wide scapegoat. Farmers of the prairie dog are also suffering from the finding because all prairie dogs sold at local game-food restaurants currently come from farms, not the wild, and there are some 36 prairie dog farms in eastern Wisconsin.

Not only that, some in the market are even not the masked prairie dog. Gerry Dziesupek, a Manitowoc food expert, wrote recently that the pedigree masked prairie dog has a faint chedder-like fragrance after being cooked. He says purebred masked prairie dogs have almost disappeared in the past two decades and those sold nowadays are hybrids. Moreover, those appearing in Milwaukee and Madison markets are actually a species of the common prairie dog imported from South Dakota. Despite their name, prairie dogs are not canines but members of the belong to the squirrel family Sciuridae.

...a preview of tomorrow's 'Onion'

[blam]

"And the western nation actually first to pick up on it was Canada."

Yup. Our guys were suprised at the Japanese knowledge about the jet stream that the balloons traveled in.

[flashbunny]

Some people are morons. Prairie dogs are pests, not pets. Just because it's looks cute doesn't mean it's harmless or going to be your new best buddy and fill that void in your life with adorable preciousness.

About 2 weeks ago they had a news piece in milwaukee about prairie dogs as pets. I didn't watch it but knew it was a stupid idea just hearing about it. This proves it. The only good thing is they were able to track it down quickly. Hopefully the only people who got sick were the ones who thought it would be a good idea to buy or sell these things.

[Buffalo Head]

Prairie Dog Town: Target rich environment!

[lorrainer]

I'll have to pop my head up here and agree with you.

[Prince Charles]

Health officials said all 12 people in Wisconsin had recovered or were getting better, although three remained in a suburban Milwaukee hospital Friday in satisfactory condition. Two other people were sickened in Illinois.

Prairie Dog bratwurst will do that every time you eat 'em.

[Manic_Episode]

How To Fish For Prarie Dogs.

http://www.freedomnet.cnchost.com/pdf/howtofpd.htm

[firewalk]

Thanks for the ping

[aristeides]

Even though the disease here is apparently not SARS, this illustrates how SARS could have gotten started.

[flashbunny]

Prairie Dog Town: Target rich environment!

That's what I think of when I see a prairie dog: An AR-15 in a varmint set up and exploding prairie dogs.