The first year we were in CO we lived near a large prairie dog community. Scared the bejeezus out of me the first time I heard them warning about the plague! It can be quite unsettling if your only experience with the plague is reading about the middle ages! LOL
There are two or three reports of the plague in Arizona each year, closer to the western line each year.
I have read reports that the rabbits get the fleas and to not allow the dogs to catch them.