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
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)
Detection of prions from spiked and free-ranging carnivore feces Detection of prions from spiked and free-ranging carnivore feces
Chronic wasting disease: State of the science Chronic wasting disease: State of the science
Model-based surveillance system design under practical constraints with application to white-nose syndrome Model-based surveillance system design under practical constraints with application to white-nose syndrome
Bayesian spatio-temporal survival analysis for all types of censoring with application to a wildlife disease study Bayesian spatio-temporal survival analysis for all types of censoring with application to a wildlife disease study
Wildlife health surveillance: Gaps, needs and opportunities Wildlife health surveillance: Gaps, needs and opportunities
Bayesian forecasting of disease spread with little or no local data Bayesian forecasting of disease spread with little or no local data
Population Monitoring Population Monitoring
Rapid prototyping for quantifying belief weights of competing hypotheses about emergent diseases Rapid prototyping for quantifying belief weights of competing hypotheses about emergent diseases
Assimilating ecological theory with empiricism: Using constrained generalized additive models to enhance survival analyses Assimilating ecological theory with empiricism: Using constrained generalized additive models to enhance survival analyses
Cause of death, pathology, and chronic wasting disease status of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) mortalities in Wisconsin Cause of death, pathology, and chronic wasting disease status of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) mortalities in Wisconsin
Agricultural land use shapes dispersal in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Agricultural land use shapes dispersal in 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.
Science and Products
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)
Detection of prions from spiked and free-ranging carnivore feces Detection of prions from spiked and free-ranging carnivore feces
Chronic wasting disease: State of the science Chronic wasting disease: State of the science
Model-based surveillance system design under practical constraints with application to white-nose syndrome Model-based surveillance system design under practical constraints with application to white-nose syndrome
Bayesian spatio-temporal survival analysis for all types of censoring with application to a wildlife disease study Bayesian spatio-temporal survival analysis for all types of censoring with application to a wildlife disease study
Wildlife health surveillance: Gaps, needs and opportunities Wildlife health surveillance: Gaps, needs and opportunities
Bayesian forecasting of disease spread with little or no local data Bayesian forecasting of disease spread with little or no local data
Population Monitoring Population Monitoring
Rapid prototyping for quantifying belief weights of competing hypotheses about emergent diseases Rapid prototyping for quantifying belief weights of competing hypotheses about emergent diseases
Assimilating ecological theory with empiricism: Using constrained generalized additive models to enhance survival analyses Assimilating ecological theory with empiricism: Using constrained generalized additive models to enhance survival analyses
Cause of death, pathology, and chronic wasting disease status of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) mortalities in Wisconsin Cause of death, pathology, and chronic wasting disease status of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) mortalities in Wisconsin
Agricultural land use shapes dispersal in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Agricultural land use shapes dispersal in 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.
*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