Tuesday June 22 WILDLIFE HEALTH

7:30 am: Breakfast

8:30 – 12:00 pm: Anthropogenic Drivers of Disease Problems in Wildlife

Presenter: John Fischer, Southeast Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS)

Fischer presented an overview of important diseases of wildlife, with an emphasis on diseases that occur as a result of human perturbation of natural ecosystems. Also, he introduced the purpose, principles and practice of wildlife disease surveillance, and talked about the role of the wildlife disease diagnostician in monitoring ecosystem health.

12:00 pm: Lunch

After lunch we were oriented on techniques.

1:00 – 5:00 pm: Laboratory - Wildlife Necropsy

Lead: Kevin Keel, SCWDS

As part of routine white-tailed deer herd health surveillance at White Oak Plantation, we broke into groups of six to conduct a white-tailed deer necropsy, collecting and recording extensive pertinent data. I was shocked by the number of ticks and chiggers on the deer and we all spent much of the necropsy session trying to remain parasite free.

During our break many of us visited the pool to wash off all of the ticks and try to escape some of the odors associated with necropsy.

6:30 pm: Dinner

Evening: Wildlife Translocation: Applying Principles of Risk Management

Presenter: Scott Citino, White Oak Conservation Center

As a prelude to the Wildlife Immobilization unit, Citino discussed the implications of wildlife translocation and reintroduction programs for the health and sustainability of free-ranging populations, stressing ways to avoid pitfalls in planning and implementing a translocation program.

The remainder of the evening was spent at the bar. I was fortunate enough to talk for a long time with Dr. Zuma of the San Diego Zoo about his work on the California Condor project. He also shared some of his pictures elephants he has darted in South Africa. We followed this up with a game of darts.