The West Block of Grasslands National Park has seen the closure of three of its prairie dog colonies as a precaution after a discovery of sylvatic plague in a black-tailed prairie dog.

Although the prairie dog tested positive for the same bacteria that causes bubonic and pneumonic plagues in humans, Parks Canada says the incident brings an extremely low risk to human health.

Grasslands staff are now spraying insecticide around the area of the Broken Hills colony where the prairie dog was discovered.

Updates into the closure and the incident will be provided as they arise.