Plague Reported in the Sandia Mountains
Release Date: Feb 17, 2015
Contact(s): Pamela Baltimore
Tijeras, NM: Plague has been reported in the Sandia Mountains, Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands near the Balsam Glade picnic area off of Hwy 165. A hiker let her dog off the leash, just for a few minutes, when it found and ate a dead animal. The dog came down with plague 3-4 days later. The dog was immediately brought to the veterinarian and given antibiotics. The dog is now doing fine.
Plague can be fatal to people and pets unless properly diagnosed and treated immediately. It can be transmitted by fleas and contact with infected animals, such as rodents, rabbits and pets.
To safeguard yourself and your pets avoid contact with wild animals; do not touch sick or dead animals. Use flea control products on pets all year round; keep pets on leash when hiking in your national forest, not only will it keep your pet from getting plague, the leash will also keep your pet from getting lost or getting attacked by predators.
Take sick pets to a veterinarian if they suddenly become ill with fever, lethargy and loss of appetite, and consult a doctor if you suddenly become ill. Symptoms of plague include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, weakness and sometimes buboes (tender and swollen lymph nodes in groin, armpit, or neck)
For additional information on plague visit the New Mexico Department of Health’s website: http://nmhealth.org/about/erd/ideb/zdp/plg/
Alerts & Warnings
- 03-03-06-24-03 Tempoprary Area Closure - Lake Marvin Area - Smokehouse Fire
- Area Closure for Cedro 4 Project Area on the Sandia Ranger District
- 03-03-03-24-01 Bear Trap Fire Area and Road Closures
- Occupancy & Use Prohibitions Forest Order #03-03-00-23-03
- Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun is prohibited