Wildlife Diseases

Much of the interest in disease ecology and wildlife health has been prompted by the emergence, or resurgence, of parasites that move between livestock, wildlife, and/or humans. Almost 75% of all emerging human infectious diseases are zoonotic and many livestock disease issues are associated with repeated introductions from wildlife species. However, parasites are also passed in the other direction from domestic hosts to wildlife hosts and these parasites may affect the long-term conservation of wildlife species.

Unprecedented human population abundance and distribution combined with anthropogenic environmental change has resulted in dramatic increases in human-animal contact, thus increasing the intimate linkages between animal and human health. NoRock scientists collaborate with a number of partners including: Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Montana State University, University of Montana, Penn State University, Yellowstone National Park and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. Together, they are working on some of the most pressing wildlife health issues around the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem:

Current Projects

Brucellosis in Elk and Bison around the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

• Supplemental feeding grounds of Wyoming. l Project Page l
• Free-ranging elk populations of Wyoming. l Project Page l
• Modeling the effectiveness of bison management actions on reducing seroprevalence
• Potential eradication in the wildlife and livestock of Spain. l Project Page l

Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in Elk and Mule Deer

• Viral tracking: discovering new pathogens of mule deer and elk to determine population connectivity. l Project Page l Information Sheet l
• Modeling the implications of prion persistence in the environment on disease dynamics and deer populations. l Project Page l
• Estimating the force of infection from current-status data. l Project Page l

Effects of Sarcoptic Mange on Gray Wolves in Yellowstone National Park l Project Page l

Effects of Climate Change on Ungulates l Project Page l Information Sheet l

Return to Science