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Anne Ballmann

Anne Ballmann is a Wildlife Disease Specialist at the National Wildlife Health Center.

I joined the USGS National Wildlife Health Center as a wildlife disease specialist/field epidemiologist in 2008. I earned my DVM at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a PhD in Comparative Medicine-Population Health at North Carolina State University (Raleigh). I’m actively involved in research and multi-agency coordination for bat white-nose syndrome (WNS) and currently serve as the lead for the WNS Diagnostic Working Group as well as on the WNS National Coordination Team.

Professional Experience

  • Wildlife Disease Specialist, National Wildlife Health Center

Education and Certifications

  • PhD Comparative Biomedical Sciences-Population Medicine, North Carolina State University (2007)

  • DVM, University of Tennessee-Knoxville (1997)

  • BS/BA Biology, Northeast Missouri State University-Kirksville (1993)

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Wildlife Disease Association

  • The Wildlife Society

  • American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians

  • American Veterinary Medical Association

Science and Products

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Small Townsend's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) colony

Developing online integrated data visualization tools for WNS and NABat

Bat Research Research collaboration: Brian Reichert (FORT), Anne Ballmann (NWHC), Jeremy Coleman (USFWS), Paul Cryan (FORT), Wayne Thogmartin (UMESC), and Katherine Irvine (NOROCK) White-nose syndrome is caused by the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), which has decimated hibernating bat populations across North America since it emerged 10 years ago in New York. While diagnostic...
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Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
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Developing online integrated data visualization tools for WNS and NABat

Bat Research Research collaboration: Brian Reichert (FORT), Anne Ballmann (NWHC), Jeremy Coleman (USFWS), Paul Cryan (FORT), Wayne Thogmartin (UMESC), and Katherine Irvine (NOROCK) White-nose syndrome is caused by the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), which has decimated hibernating bat populations across North America since it emerged 10 years ago in New York. While diagnostic...
Learn More
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A little brown bat being released shortly after samples are collected.

White-Nose Syndrome Surveillance

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) assists State, Federal, and Tribal wildlife agencies nationwide with early detection of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), and addresses specific research priorities identified by partners in conjunction with the White-Nose Syndrome National Plan.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center
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White-Nose Syndrome Surveillance

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) assists State, Federal, and Tribal wildlife agencies nationwide with early detection of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), and addresses specific research priorities identified by partners in conjunction with the White-Nose Syndrome National Plan.
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Image: Bat with White-nose Syndrome

White-Nose Syndrome

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emergent disease of hibernating bats that has spread from the northeastern across United States at an alarming rate.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center
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White-Nose Syndrome

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emergent disease of hibernating bats that has spread from the northeastern across United States at an alarming rate.
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Little brown bat with white-nose syndrome

North American Bat Data Integration

The purpose of this project was to integrate the Bat Banding Program data (1932-1972) and the U.S. and Canada diagnostic data for white-nose syndrome with the USGS Bat Population Data (BPD) Project and provide the bat research community with secure, role-based access to these previously unavailable datasets. The objectives of this project were to: 1) integrate WNS diagnostic data into the BPD (htt
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Core Science Systems Mission Area, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program, Community for Data Integration (CDI), Fort Collins Science Center
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North American Bat Data Integration

The purpose of this project was to integrate the Bat Banding Program data (1932-1972) and the U.S. and Canada diagnostic data for white-nose syndrome with the USGS Bat Population Data (BPD) Project and provide the bat research community with secure, role-based access to these previously unavailable datasets. The objectives of this project were to: 1) integrate WNS diagnostic data into the BPD (htt
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Pd qPCR Interlaboratory Testing Results

These data were collected as part of a voluntary initiative to create a White-Nose Syndrome Diagnostic Laboratory Network among laboratories participating in research and surveillance for Pseudogymonascus destructans (Pd) - the fungal pathogen causing White-Nose Syndrome in bats. Pd_qPCR_InterlaboratoryLODdata.xlsx is raw qPCR data from multiple laboratories running serial dilutions of Pd gBlock i
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National Wildlife Health Center

Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county 2013-2020

This data documents the results of sampling for the white-nose syndrome fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center between 2013-2020. Data are reported on the county level. Locations are accurate to county only. We used data collected at winter locations only (hibernaculum) for this data set.
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Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county (2008-2012)

This data represents the number of positive and negative Pd (Pseudogymnoascus destructans) detections by county over the sampling period 2008-2012. Pd is the fungus that is the causative agent of white-nose syndrome.
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Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

Bayou Sauvage NWR (LA) Haul Trail Snake Mortality, 2015-2017

Comprehensive list of carcasses detected at Haul Trail in Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge (Orleans Parish, LA) and relevant findings for specimens subject to postmortem examination at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (Madison, WI).
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Kansas Water Science Center

WNS Summer Surveillance: DATA

Bats occupying hibernacula during summer months may play an important role in the epidemiology of white-nose syndrome (WNS). For example, bats exposed to viable Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the causative agent of WNS, in late summer could spread the fungus by transmitting it to other bats or to other locations suitable for establishment of new environmental reservoirs. To explore risks for
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center
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Members of USGS Team B and paper Powell sharing a moment at the end of their 4-day river journey at the Gates of Lodore
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Low bridge hazard across Green River
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Open grassy landscape and distant mountains of Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area as seen from the Green River
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UV light trap set up at dusk along the river's edge to collect and inventory riparian insect populations
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Brillant sunset at Little Swallow Campsite on the Green River
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View downstream of SCREE raft entering Swallow Canyon
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Portaging boat around Flaming Gorge Dam
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View downriver of Powell Expedition boats on the Green River in Red Canyon on a cold, rainy day.
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Yellow Warbler in Grass along Green River
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Boatmen's sleeping quarters at Big Pine in Red Canyon on the Green River
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Filter Total Items: 53

Long-term Pseudogymnoascus destructans surveillance data reveal factors contributing to pathogen presence

The disease white-nose syndrome (WNS) was first recognized in upstate New York in 2006 and has since spread across much of the United States (U.S.), causing severe mortality in several North American bat species. To aid in the identification and monitoring of at-risk bat populations, we evaluate factors associated with the presence of the causative fungal agent of WNS, Pseudogymnoascus destructans
Authors
John Grider, Robin E. Russell, Anne Ballmann, Trevor J. Hefley
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Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Quarterly wildlife mortality report July 2021

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) Quarterly Mortality Report provides brief summaries of epizootic mortality and morbidity events by quarter. The write-ups, highlighting epizootic events and other wildlife disease topics of interest, are published in the Wildlife Disease Association quarterly newsletter. A link is provided in this WDA newsletter to the Wildlife Health Information Sha
Authors
Bryan J. Richards, Anne Ballmann, Julia S. Lankton, Thierry M. Work, Jaimie L. Miller
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Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Quarterly Wildlife Mortality Report April 2021

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) Quarterly Mortality Report provides brief summaries of epizootic mortality and morbidity events by quarter. The write-ups, highlighting epizootic events and other wildlife disease topics of interest, are published in the Wildlife Disease Association quarterly newsletter. A link is provided in this WDA newsletter to the Wildlife Health Information Sha
Authors
Bryan J. Richards, Robin E. Russell, Anne Ballmann
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Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Recovering individual-level spatial inference from aggregated binary data

Binary regression models are commonly used in disciplines such as epidemiology and ecology to determine how spatial covariates influence individuals. In many studies, binary data are shared in a spatially aggregated form to protect privacy. For example, rather than reporting the location and result for each individual that was tested for a disease, researchers may report that a disease was detecte
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Nelson Walker, Trevor J. Hefley, Anne Ballmann, Robin E. Russell, Daniel P. Walsh
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Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Analysis of archival specimens confirms White-nose syndrome in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) from New York, USA, in spring 2007

White-nose syndrome (WNS), an emerging fungal disease of North American bats, was first diagnosed in January 2008, although mortality and photo-documentation suggest the disease may have been present earlier. Using archived samples, we describe a definitive case of WNS in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) from New York, USA, in spring 2007.
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Saskia Keller, Jeffrey M. Lorch, Brenda M. Berlowski-Zier, Anne Ballmann, David S. Blehert
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Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Quarterly wildlife mortality report January 2021

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) Quarterly Mortality Report provides brief summaries of epizootic mortality and morbidity events by quarter. The write-ups, highlighting epizootic events and other wildlife disease topics of interest, are published in the Wildlife Disease Association quarterly newsletter. A link is provided in this WDA newsletter to the Wildlife Health Information Sha
Authors
Bryan J. Richards, Barbara Bodenstein, Daniel A. Grear, Hon S. Ip, Anne Ballmann, Julia S. Lankton, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler
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Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Environmental contamination and unusual snake mortality in an urban national wildlife refuge

The National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System protects ~150 million acres of land and water in the United States and provides habitat for >2,000 native vertebrates species. Although legally protected, wildlife populations within these refuges can be threatened by anthropogenic activities. The lack of knowledge about such threats has the potential to undermine biodiversity conservation. We investigate
Authors
Kimberly A. Terrell, Anne Ballmann, Ashli Brown, Christina Childers, Susan Knowles, Ashley Meredith, Darrell Sparks
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Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Quarterly wildlife mortality report July 2020

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) Quarterly Mortality Report provides brief summaries of epizootic mortality and morbidity events by quarter. The write-ups, highlighting epizootic events and other wildlife disease topics of interest, are published in the Wildlife Disease Association quarterly newsletter. A link is provided in this WDA newsletter to the Wildlife Health Information Sha
Authors
Bryan J. Richards, Anne Ballmann, Barbara Bodenstein, Robert J. Dusek, Jonathan M. Sleeman
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Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

USGS-NWHC Quarterly Wildlife Mortality Report - October 2018

No abstract available.
Authors
Bryan J. Richards, Robert J. Dusek, Anne Ballmann, Natalie T. Nguyen
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Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

USGS-NWHC Quarterly Wildlife Mortality Report - July 2018

No abstract available.
Authors
Bryan J. Richards, Barbara Bodenstein, Anne Ballmann, Michelle St. Martin
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Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

USGS-NWHC Quarterly Wildlife Mortality Report- April 2018

No abstract available.
Authors
Bryan J. Richards, Barbara Bodenstein, Anne Ballmann, C. LeAnn White
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Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Quarterly wildlife mortality report - January 2018

No  abstract available.
Authors
Bryan J. Richards, Daniel A. Grear, Anne Ballmann, Robert J. Dusek, Robert Kaler, Kathy Kuletz
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Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center
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White-nose syndrome surveillance and research updates

Updates on white-nose syndrome surveillance and research from the USGS National Wildlife Health Center in Fall 2019.

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*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government