Daniel P. Walsh, PhD
Assistant 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
2011 – Present Quantitative Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison WI
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
Recovering individual-level spatial inference from aggregated binary data
Efficacy of fenbendazole and ivermectin against Trichuris spp. in African green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) in Barbados West Indies
Space matters: Host spatial structure and the dynamics of plague transmission
An ecological and conservation perspective
Improving the accessibility and transferability of machine learning algorithms for identification of animals in camera trap images: MLWIC2
Assessing the risks posed by SARS-CoV-2 in and via North American bats — Decision framing and rapid risk assessment
Long-term survival of Pseudogymnoascus destructans at elevated temperatures
Removal of chronic Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae carrier ewes eliminates pneumonia in a bighorn sheep population
Chronic wasting disease—Research by the U.S. Geological Survey and partners
Artificial intelligence and avian influenza: Using machine learning to enhance active surveillance for avian influenza viruses
Predicting the initial spread of novel Asian origin influenza A viruses in the continental USA by wild waterfowl
Challenges and opportunities developing mathematical models of shared pathogens of domestic and wild animals
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
Recovering individual-level spatial inference from aggregated binary data
Efficacy of fenbendazole and ivermectin against Trichuris spp. in African green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) in Barbados West Indies
Space matters: Host spatial structure and the dynamics of plague transmission
An ecological and conservation perspective
Improving the accessibility and transferability of machine learning algorithms for identification of animals in camera trap images: MLWIC2
Assessing the risks posed by SARS-CoV-2 in and via North American bats — Decision framing and rapid risk assessment
Long-term survival of Pseudogymnoascus destructans at elevated temperatures
Removal of chronic Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae carrier ewes eliminates pneumonia in a bighorn sheep population
Chronic wasting disease—Research by the U.S. Geological Survey and partners
Artificial intelligence and avian influenza: Using machine learning to enhance active surveillance for avian influenza viruses
Predicting the initial spread of novel Asian origin influenza A viruses in the continental USA by wild waterfowl
Challenges and opportunities developing mathematical models of shared pathogens of domestic and wild animals
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