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Biosecurity

We protect people, plants, and animals from infectious diseases

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Biosurveillance

Our early detection & rapid response are improving biological threat detection

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Fish and Wildlife Disease

We are the lead Federal agency for wildlife disease research and surveillance

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Invasive Species

We help solve problems posed by invasive species across the country

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Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program

The Biological Threats Research Program delivers science to protect public safety, property, and ecosystems from invasive plants and animals and infectious fish and wildlife diseases that pose significant ecologic and economic threats to the resources of the United States.

News

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COVID-19 virus can infect Mexican free-tailed bats

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Application of the Resist-Accept-Direct Framework to Managing Invasive Species

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Controlling Invasive Fish in Fluctuating Environments: Analysis of Common Carp in a Shallow Lake

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Publications

Hidden in plain sight: Detecting invasive species when they are morphologically similar to native species

Early detection and rapid response (EDRR) can help mitigate and control invasive species outbreaks early on but its success is dependent on accurate identification of invasive species. We evaluated a novel outbreak in San Diego County, California of the Sonoran Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis sonorae) in order to confirm their spread as well as quantify how to better detect and potentially manage t
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Ecosystems, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Controlling invasive fish in fluctuating environments: Model analysis of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in a shallow lake

Climate change can act to facilitate or inhibit invasions of non-native species. Here, we address the influence of climate change on control of non-native common carp (hereafter, carp), a species recognized as one of the “world's worst” invaders across the globe. Control of this species is exceedingly difficult, as it exhibits rapid population growth and compensatory density dependence. In many lo
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Ecosystems, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Susceptibility of beavers to chronic wasting disease

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a contagious, fatal, neurodegenerative prion disease of cervids. The expanding geographical range and rising prevalence of CWD are increasing the risk of pathogen transfer and spillover of CWD to non-cervid sympatric species. As beavers have close contact with environmental and food sources of CWD infectivity, we hypothesized that they may be susceptible to CWD pri
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Ecosystems, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center
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Science

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male mallard in flight

Distribution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in North America, 2021/2022

The first 2021/2022 detection of Eurasian strain (EA) highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in North America occurred in December 2021 in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Subsequently, HPAI EA H5 and EA H5N1 viruses have been confirmed in wild birds, backyard flocks, commercial poultry facilities, and wild mammals in both Canada and the United States. This HPAI distribution map will be...
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Ecosystems, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center
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Distribution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in North America, 2021/2022

The first 2021/2022 detection of Eurasian strain (EA) highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in North America occurred in December 2021 in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Subsequently, HPAI EA H5 and EA H5N1 viruses have been confirmed in wild birds, backyard flocks, commercial poultry facilities, and wild mammals in both Canada and the United States. This HPAI distribution map will be...
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Testing for Avian Influenza

Avian Influenza Surveillance

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) conducts surveillance in wild birds to facilitate early detection and situational awareness for high consequence pathogens, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses.
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Ecosystems, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center
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Avian Influenza Surveillance

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) conducts surveillance in wild birds to facilitate early detection and situational awareness for high consequence pathogens, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses.
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Photomicrographs from a Ross’s Goose. Features are purple and pink.

Pathology Case of the Month

Notable cases at the National Wildlife Health Center are highlighted here in the Pathology Case of the Month Series.
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Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center
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Pathology Case of the Month

Notable cases at the National Wildlife Health Center are highlighted here in the Pathology Case of the Month Series.
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