This figure shows the measured and forecasted growth and spread of CWD in white-tailed deer in th core area where CWD occurs in Wisconsin, USA.
Daniel P. Walsh, PhD
Unit Leader - Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit
Daniel joined the Montana Unit in 2022. Daniel worked as a Disease Researcher with Colorado Division of Wildlife and as a Quantitative Ecologist at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center before joining the Montana Unit in 2022. He conducts applied research that develops and applies novel quantitative approaches in conjunction with field research to improve the health of wildlife populations. His research interests are broad, and he has worked on a wide array of taxonomic groups and wildlife health issues including chronic wasting disease, bighorn sheep respiratory disease, avian influenza, white nose syndrome, New Castle disease, among others. One focus of his current research is leveraging systems modeling to inform decision-making and applying scientific principles to the implementation of management efforts to improve the likelihood of desired outcomes. Additionally, Dr. Walsh has helped develop national surveillance strategies for avian influenza and white nose syndrome and has conducted extensive work with the World Animal Health Organisation and others to build wildlife health capacity globally. Dr. Walsh will teach courses in statistical methods for population dynamics and wildlife health modeling.
Daniel received graduate degrees in Fisheries and Wildlife and Statistics from Michigan State University and Colorado State University. He worked as a Disease Researcher with Colorado Division of Wildlife and as a Quantitative Ecologist at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center.
Professional Experience
2022 - Present, Unit Leader - Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit
2011 – 2022, Quantitative Ecologist, National Wildlife Health Center
2007 – 2011, Disease Researcher, Colorado Division of Wildlife
2003 – 2007, Research Assistant-Michigan State University
2000 – 2002, Research Assistant-Colorado State University
Education and Certifications
Ph. D. Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 2007
M. S. Statistics Michigan State University, 2007
M. S. Fish and Wildlife Biology, Colorado State University, 2002
B. S. Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 1999
Affiliations and Memberships*
Honorary Fellow, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Affiliate Faculty, South Dakota State University
Member of the Wildlife Disease Association
Member of the Wildlife Society
Member of the North Central Section of the Wildlife Society
Member of Wisconsin Chapter of the Wildlife Society
Science and Products
Application of a systems approach for management of chronic wasting disease
Integrating Science and Management to Assist with the Response to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease
Research in response to Florida’s emerging coral disease
Assessing the Ability of Incineration to Inactivate CWD Prions from Carcasses
Advancing the Use of RT-QuIC for Applications in CWD Management
Chronic Wasting Disease
Avian Influenza
Disease Ecology and Modeling
Unified antlerless harvest records for firearm white-tailed deer harvest in the Midwestern United States 2001-2023 Unified antlerless harvest records for firearm white-tailed deer harvest in the Midwestern United States 2001-2023
Data for Fatal interactions: Pneumonia in bighorn lambs following experimental exposure to carriers of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae Data for Fatal interactions: Pneumonia in bighorn lambs following experimental exposure to carriers of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae
Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county 2007-2022 Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county 2007-2022
Host vs. Pathogen Evolutionary Arms Race: Effects of Exposure History on Individual Response to a Genetically Diverse Pathogen Host vs. Pathogen Evolutionary Arms Race: Effects of Exposure History on Individual Response to a Genetically Diverse Pathogen
White-tailed deer and sharp-tailed grouse data used in constrained generalized additive models to enhance survival analyses and incorporate ecological theory White-tailed deer and sharp-tailed grouse data used in constrained generalized additive models to enhance survival analyses and incorporate ecological theory
Expert assessments of hypotheses concerning the etiological agent(s) of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease collected during a rapid prototyping project Expert assessments of hypotheses concerning the etiological agent(s) of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease collected during a rapid prototyping project
Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county (2008-2012) Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county (2008-2012)
Pseudogymnoascus destructans survival at elevated temperatures - Artificial media count data Pseudogymnoascus destructans survival at elevated temperatures - Artificial media count data
This figure shows the measured and forecasted growth and spread of CWD in white-tailed deer in th core area where CWD occurs in Wisconsin, USA.
Doe diligence: A regional analysis of antlerless deer harvest regulations in the Midwestern United States of America. Doe diligence: A regional analysis of antlerless deer harvest regulations in the Midwestern United States of America.
Characterization of the long-distance dispersal kernel of white-tailed deer and evaluating its impact on chronic wasting disease spread in Wisconsin Characterization of the long-distance dispersal kernel of white-tailed deer and evaluating its impact on chronic wasting disease spread in Wisconsin
Learning complex spatial dynamics of wildlife diseases with machine learning-guided partial differential equations Learning complex spatial dynamics of wildlife diseases with machine learning-guided partial differential equations
Spatiotemporal causal inference with mechanistic ecological models: Evaluating targeted culling on chronic wasting disease dynamics in cervids Spatiotemporal causal inference with mechanistic ecological models: Evaluating targeted culling on chronic wasting disease dynamics in cervids
Fatal interactions: Pneumonia in bighorn lambs following experimental exposure to carriers of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae Fatal interactions: Pneumonia in bighorn lambs following experimental exposure to carriers of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae
Host vs. pathogen evolutionary arms race: Effects of exposure history on individual response to a genetically diverse pathogen Host vs. pathogen evolutionary arms race: Effects of exposure history on individual response to a genetically diverse pathogen
Wildlife health capacity enhancement in Thailand through the World Organisation for Animal Health Twinning Program Wildlife health capacity enhancement in Thailand through the World Organisation for Animal Health Twinning Program
Spatio-temporal ecological models via physics-informed neural networks for studying chronic wasting disease Spatio-temporal ecological models via physics-informed neural networks for studying chronic wasting disease
Epidemiological modeling of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) reveals conditions for introduction and widespread transmission Epidemiological modeling of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) reveals conditions for introduction and widespread transmission
Validation of a real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay protocol to detect chronic wasting disease using rectal mucosa of naturally infected, pre-clinical white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Validation of a real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay protocol to detect chronic wasting disease using rectal mucosa of naturally infected, pre-clinical white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Prion seeding activity in plant tissues detected by RT-QuIC Prion seeding activity in plant tissues detected by RT-QuIC
Metagenomic sequencing sheds light on microbes putatively associated with pneumonia-related fatalities of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Metagenomic sequencing sheds light on microbes putatively associated with pneumonia-related fatalities of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Code for Doe diligence: A regional analysis of antlerless deer harvest regulations in the Midwestern United States of America Code for Doe diligence: A regional analysis of antlerless deer harvest regulations in the Midwestern United States of America
Example code for implementing physics-informed neural networks and generating simulated data Example code for implementing physics-informed neural networks and generating simulated data
Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Optimization Software Version 2 Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Optimization Software Version 2
Code for Assimilating ecological theory with empiricism: Using constrained generalized additive models to enhance survival analyses Code for Assimilating ecological theory with empiricism: Using constrained generalized additive models to enhance survival analyses
Code for Rapid prototyping for quantifying belief weights of competing hypotheses about emergent diseases Code for Rapid prototyping for quantifying belief weights of competing hypotheses about emergent diseases
Science and Products
Application of a systems approach for management of chronic wasting disease
Integrating Science and Management to Assist with the Response to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease
Research in response to Florida’s emerging coral disease
Assessing the Ability of Incineration to Inactivate CWD Prions from Carcasses
Advancing the Use of RT-QuIC for Applications in CWD Management
Chronic Wasting Disease
Avian Influenza
Disease Ecology and Modeling
Unified antlerless harvest records for firearm white-tailed deer harvest in the Midwestern United States 2001-2023 Unified antlerless harvest records for firearm white-tailed deer harvest in the Midwestern United States 2001-2023
Data for Fatal interactions: Pneumonia in bighorn lambs following experimental exposure to carriers of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae Data for Fatal interactions: Pneumonia in bighorn lambs following experimental exposure to carriers of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae
Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county 2007-2022 Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county 2007-2022
Host vs. Pathogen Evolutionary Arms Race: Effects of Exposure History on Individual Response to a Genetically Diverse Pathogen Host vs. Pathogen Evolutionary Arms Race: Effects of Exposure History on Individual Response to a Genetically Diverse Pathogen
White-tailed deer and sharp-tailed grouse data used in constrained generalized additive models to enhance survival analyses and incorporate ecological theory White-tailed deer and sharp-tailed grouse data used in constrained generalized additive models to enhance survival analyses and incorporate ecological theory
Expert assessments of hypotheses concerning the etiological agent(s) of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease collected during a rapid prototyping project Expert assessments of hypotheses concerning the etiological agent(s) of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease collected during a rapid prototyping project
Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county (2008-2012) Pseudogymnoascus destructans detections by US county (2008-2012)
Pseudogymnoascus destructans survival at elevated temperatures - Artificial media count data Pseudogymnoascus destructans survival at elevated temperatures - Artificial media count data
This figure shows the measured and forecasted growth and spread of CWD in white-tailed deer in th core area where CWD occurs in Wisconsin, USA.
This figure shows the measured and forecasted growth and spread of CWD in white-tailed deer in th core area where CWD occurs in Wisconsin, USA.
Doe diligence: A regional analysis of antlerless deer harvest regulations in the Midwestern United States of America. Doe diligence: A regional analysis of antlerless deer harvest regulations in the Midwestern United States of America.
Characterization of the long-distance dispersal kernel of white-tailed deer and evaluating its impact on chronic wasting disease spread in Wisconsin Characterization of the long-distance dispersal kernel of white-tailed deer and evaluating its impact on chronic wasting disease spread in Wisconsin
Learning complex spatial dynamics of wildlife diseases with machine learning-guided partial differential equations Learning complex spatial dynamics of wildlife diseases with machine learning-guided partial differential equations
Spatiotemporal causal inference with mechanistic ecological models: Evaluating targeted culling on chronic wasting disease dynamics in cervids Spatiotemporal causal inference with mechanistic ecological models: Evaluating targeted culling on chronic wasting disease dynamics in cervids
Fatal interactions: Pneumonia in bighorn lambs following experimental exposure to carriers of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae Fatal interactions: Pneumonia in bighorn lambs following experimental exposure to carriers of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae
Host vs. pathogen evolutionary arms race: Effects of exposure history on individual response to a genetically diverse pathogen Host vs. pathogen evolutionary arms race: Effects of exposure history on individual response to a genetically diverse pathogen
Wildlife health capacity enhancement in Thailand through the World Organisation for Animal Health Twinning Program Wildlife health capacity enhancement in Thailand through the World Organisation for Animal Health Twinning Program
Spatio-temporal ecological models via physics-informed neural networks for studying chronic wasting disease Spatio-temporal ecological models via physics-informed neural networks for studying chronic wasting disease
Epidemiological modeling of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) reveals conditions for introduction and widespread transmission Epidemiological modeling of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) reveals conditions for introduction and widespread transmission
Validation of a real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay protocol to detect chronic wasting disease using rectal mucosa of naturally infected, pre-clinical white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Validation of a real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay protocol to detect chronic wasting disease using rectal mucosa of naturally infected, pre-clinical white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Prion seeding activity in plant tissues detected by RT-QuIC Prion seeding activity in plant tissues detected by RT-QuIC
Metagenomic sequencing sheds light on microbes putatively associated with pneumonia-related fatalities of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Metagenomic sequencing sheds light on microbes putatively associated with pneumonia-related fatalities of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Code for Doe diligence: A regional analysis of antlerless deer harvest regulations in the Midwestern United States of America Code for Doe diligence: A regional analysis of antlerless deer harvest regulations in the Midwestern United States of America
Example code for implementing physics-informed neural networks and generating simulated data Example code for implementing physics-informed neural networks and generating simulated data
Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Optimization Software Version 2 Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Optimization Software Version 2
Code for Assimilating ecological theory with empiricism: Using constrained generalized additive models to enhance survival analyses Code for Assimilating ecological theory with empiricism: Using constrained generalized additive models to enhance survival analyses
Code for Rapid prototyping for quantifying belief weights of competing hypotheses about emergent diseases Code for Rapid prototyping for quantifying belief weights of competing hypotheses about emergent diseases
*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