CVM100OD32 - College of Veterinary Medicine: Wildlife Health Challenges in Surveillance and Management

Course Description

Wildlife health includes social, ecological and biological factors, and it is critical to understand the influence of stressors of free-ranging wildlife populations. These include climate change that impacts the animal and potential disease vectors, global travel bringing in novel pathogens from all over the world, an increase in emerging and re-emerging diseases, and perhaps the most difficult is dealing with the public’s separation from the natural world. Surveillance for enzootic and epizootic outbreaks is critical as part of a One Health approach; however challenges exist for detection, diagnosis, and management of wildlife-associated diseases. During this session, we will cover the definition of wildlife health, jurisdictional issues related to species, location, and disease; and critical functions during surveillance and management activities. Just like COVID, the saying “may you live in interesting times” emerged from an unknown Chinese origin. For wildlife, we have a lot of uncertainty around health issues so careful communication is necessary to ensure that messages to not erode the public’s attitudes toward wild animals.

Benefits to the Learner

• Give a definition of wildlife health
• Understand how anthropogenic stressors could impact wildlife disease outbreaks
• Understand how wildlife fits into a One Health approach

Accrediting Associations

• The American Association of Veterinary State Boards RACE Approval Number 20-878940 1.0 Hours
• New York State Education Department 1.0 Hours