Plague Vector Studies Part III. The rate deparasitized ground squirrels are reinfested with fleas under field conditions1

A total of 48,996 fleas was collected from 143 ground squirrels. The fleas were in 3 species, Echidnophaga gallinacea, Hoplopsyllus anomalus and Diamanus montanus. When returned to their habitat, most deparasitized animals recovered their normal complement of fleas on or before the third day; and, in most instances, the flea population on the formerly deparasitized squirrels exceeded the normal complement of fleas from the third to the seventh day. Electrical fences were used to confine the ground squirrels.