Dynamics of Rabies Transmission in Vampire Bats (Desmodus rotundus) and Potential for Control Through Vaccination
Research in Response to Florida’s Emerging Stony Coral (scleractinia) Diseases
Understanding and Containing Chronic Wasting Disease
CWD is expanding geographically and increasing in prevalence.
CWD is expanding geographically and increasing in prevalence.
Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership – event reporting system (WHISPers)
National Wildlife Health Center
Welcome to the National Wildlife Health Center! Our mission is to advance wildlife health science for the benefit of animals, humans, and the environment.
Explore SCIENCE to learn more about wildlife diseases, ongoing projects, the Honolulu Field Station, and our services.
Explore WEB TOOLS to access WHISPers, wildlife health bulletins, our field manual, and more.
Honolulu Field Station
Honolulu Field Station
The NWHC HFS provides support to the natural resource communities of Hawaii and the Pacific Basin in the investigation of wildlife diseases.
News
White-nose syndrome detections in two Pacific Northwest National Parks
White-nose syndrome detections in two Pacific Northwest National Parks
Fiscal Year 2025 Highlights from EESC’s Disease Decision Analysis and Research Group
Fiscal Year 2025 Highlights from EESC’s Disease Decision Analysis and Research Group
NWHC in the News: Stopping White Nose Syndrome
NWHC in the News: Stopping White Nose Syndrome
Publications
Integrating hunter dynamics and waterfowl dynamics to inform harvest management Integrating hunter dynamics and waterfowl dynamics to inform harvest management
The successful conservation and management of North American waterfowl relies upon an adaptive harvest management framework that accounts for changes in the system state and critical uncertainties related to the dynamics of waterfowl populations and habitats. Increasing recognition of the importance of the human dimensions of the harvest process, particularly those related to hunters...
Species nativeness as a cultural paradigm in conservation Species nativeness as a cultural paradigm in conservation
Conservation entails cultural practices shaped by our worldviews, values, beliefs, and priorities for our interactions with nature. These inform how we categorize which species we want to occur in which landscapes. In Western conservation organizations, conceptualizations of species ‘belonging’ typically align with a dichotomy of native versus introduced species. This is a cultural...
Identification of novel hepaciviruses and Sylvilagus-associated viruses via metatranscriptomics in North American lagomorphs Identification of novel hepaciviruses and Sylvilagus-associated viruses via metatranscriptomics in North American lagomorphs
Cottontails (Sylvilagus spp.) and jackrabbits (Lepus spp.) within the Leporidae family are native to North America and are found in a wide range of habitats, including deserts, forests, and grasslands. Although there is a growing body of research describing the arrival of the highly virulent rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2, GI.2) on this continent, and its impact on native...
Science
White-nose syndrome vaccine updates
Since its emergence in 2006, white-nose syndrome (WNS) continues to spread in North America and has substantially impacted hibernating bat populations, contributing to declines of over 90% in northern long-eared ( Myotis septentrionalis), little brown ( Myotis lucifugus), and tri-colored bat ( Perimyotis subflavus) populations. We are developing tools and management strategies to protect bat...
Assessing the Ability of Incineration to Inactivate CWD Prions from Carcasses
Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurologic disease of cervids, presents a monumental management challenge, in part because the etiologic agent, an infectious prion, can be transmitted directly or indirectly and is extremely difficult to inactivate. As CWD expands geographically and increases in prevalence, additional disposal options are desired to safely dispose of CWD-contaminated tissues...
Application of a systems approach for management of chronic wasting disease
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Ventana Systems, Inc., and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR) are applying a systems approach to map and model the complex relationships among ecological, epidemiological, social, and political processes affecting CWD. Through a participatory modeling process, we gathered subject matter...