A prairie dog is susceptible to a number of diseases, the most notable being plague. Plague is an infectious disease transmitted by the bite of an infected flea. Plague can be devastating to prairie dog populations, wiping out entire colonies in some areas. Although it can be transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected flea, plague has not been found in prairie dogs in Nebraska and is now treatable in humans. In many ways, a prairie dog town can be considered a biological oasis.
Many wildlife species associate with prairie dogs.
Some species feed on prairie dogs, but others utilize the burrow systems or the unique habitat to fulfill their needs. Vacapt burrows are used by cottontail rabbits, several species of small rodents and by burrowing owls. Meadowlarks, grasshopper sparrows, and other birds are found in greater numbers in prairie dog towns than in the surrounding rangeland because they are attracted to the open spaces, where seeds and insects are more accessible. But, the prairie dog is not always compatible with agricultural interests. By eating and clipping vegetation, the prairie dog does compete with livestock.