W. David Walter, PhD
Assistant Unit Leader - Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
After finishing his Ph.D., David served as a post-doctoral Researcher at the National Wildlife Research Center for nearly 5 years. A majority of his research explores spatial ecology of various species throughout the U.S. using GIS to further our understanding of wildlife presence/absence, nutrition, and disease.
Research Interests
David's primary research interests have focused on using various modeling techniques to understand spatial ecology of disease in ungulates in various regions of North America. He also uses stable isotopes to understand movements, nutritional ecology, and effects of invasive species on native non-game species at the landscape level.
Teaching Interests
David teaches graduate courses in spatial ecology, movement analyses, home range estimation, and disease epidemiology.
Professional Experience
Assistant Unit Leader, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2011-
Education and Certifications
Ph D Oklahoma State University 2006
MS University of New Hampshire 2000
BS SUNY - College of Environmental Science and Forestry 1995
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 28
Spatial ecology of urban striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in the Northern Great Plains: A framework for future oral rabies vaccination programs
Few studies have investigated the ecology of urban striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) despite their role as a primary rabies vector species paired with an ability to thrive in these landscapes. Information on home range, nightly movements, and habitat selection, is important for rabies management planning regarding the placement of oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits and for management of skunk popula
Authors
Anna L. Schneider, Amy T. Gilbert, W. David Walter, Gregory S. Vandeberg, Jason R. Boulanger
Heterogeneity of a landscape influences size of home range in a North American cervid
In the northeastern United States, chronic wasting disease has recently been detected in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations, and understanding the relationship between landscape configuration and home range may improve disease surveillance and containment efforts. The objectives of our study were to compare size of home range for deer occupying a continuum of forested landscape
Authors
W. David Walter, Tyler S. Evans, David Stainbrook, Bret D. Wallingford, Christopher S. Rosenberry, Duane R. Diefenbach
Incorporating detection probability to estimate pheasant density
ndices of abundance, such as point counts, commonly are used to monitor trends in bird populations. In some circumstances, however, an index of abundance provides insufficient information for making management decisions and accurate density estimates are necessary. Wild ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were translocated to 10 study areas in Pennsylvania from 2007 to 2014 with the goal o
Authors
Lacey T. Williamson, W. David Walter, Scott R. Klinger, Duane R. Diefenbach
Chronic wasting disease—Status, science, and management support by the U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigates chronic wasting disease (CWD) at multiple science centers and cooperative research units across the Nation and supports the management of CWD through science-based strategies. CWD research conducted by USGS scientists has three strategies: (1) to understand the biology, ecology, and causes and distribution of CWD; (2) to assess and predict the spread
Authors
Christina M. Carlson, M. Camille Hopkins, Natalie T. Nguyen, Bryan J. Richards, Daniel P. Walsh, W. David Walter
Influence of precipitation and crop germination on resource selection by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in southwest Colorado
Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations in the western United States provide many benefits to local economies but can also cause considerable damage to agriculture, particularly damage to lucrative crops. Limited information exists to understand resource selection of mule deer in response to annual variation in crop rotation and climatic conditions. We tested the hypothesis that mule deer sele
Authors
Emily M. Carrollo, Heather E. Johnson, Justin W. Fischer, Matthew Hammond, Patricia D. Dorsey, Charles Anderson, Kurt C. Vercauteren, W. David Walter
CWDPRNP: A tool for cervid prion sequence analysis in program R
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal, neurological disease caused by an infectious prion protein, which affects economically and ecologically important members of the family Cervidae. Single nucleotide polymorphisms within the prion protein gene have been linked to differential susceptibility to the disease in many species. Wildlife managers are seeking to determine the frequencies of disease-associ
Authors
William L. Miller, W. David Walter
Winter and summer home ranges of American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) captured at loafing sites in the southeastern United States
Satellite telemetry was used to investigate summer and winter home ranges for resident and migrant American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) captured in the southeastern United States between 2002 and 2007. Home range utilization distributions were calculated using 50% and 95% kernel density estimators with the plug-in bandwidth selector. Mean summer home ranges (95%) varied from 177 to
Authors
D. Tommy King, Justin W. Fischer, Bronson K. Strickland, W. David Walter, Fred L. Cunningham, Guiming Wang
Evaluating a strategy to deliver vaccine to white-tailed deer at a landscape level
Effective delivery of vaccines and other pharmaceuticals to wildlife populations is needed when zoonotic diseases pose a risk to public health and natural resources or have considerable economic consequences. The objective of our study was to develop a bait-distribution strategy for potential delivery of oral bovine tuberculosis (bTB) vaccine to white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) where dee
Authors
Justin W. Fischer, Chad R. Blass, W. David Walter, Charles W. Anderson, Michael J. Lavelle, Wayne H. Hall, Kurt C. VerCauterren
Effects of repeated simulated removal activities on feral swine movements and space use
Abundance and distribution of feral swine (Sus scrofa) in the USA have increased dramatically during the last 30 years. Effective measures are needed to control and eradicate feral swine populations without displacing animals over wider areas. Our objective was to investigate effects of repeated simulated removal activities on feral swine movements and space use. We analyzed location data from 21
Authors
Justin W. Fischer, Dan McMurtry, Chad R. Blass, W. David Walter, Jeff Beringer, Kurt C. VerCauterren
Seeded amplification of chronic wasting disease prions in nasal brushings and recto-anal mucosal associated lymphoid tissues from elk by real time quaking-induced conversion
Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids, was first documented nearly 50 years ago in Colorado and Wyoming and has since been detected across North America and the Republic of Korea. The expansion of this disease makes the development of sensitive diagnostic assays and antemortem sampling techniques crucial for the mitigation of its spread; this is especi
Authors
Nicholas J. Haley, Chris Siepker, Laura L. Hoon-Hanks, Gordon Mitchell, W. David Walter, Matteo Manca, Ryan J. Monello, Jenny G. Powers, Margaret A. Wild, Edward A. Hoover, Byron Caughey, Jürgen a. Richt
Antemortem detection of chronic wasting disease prions in nasal brush collections and rectal biopsies from white-tailed deer by real time quaking-induced conversion
Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids, was first documented nearly 50 years ago in Colorado and Wyoming and has since spread to cervids in 23 states, two Canadian provinces, and the Republic of Korea. The expansion of this disease makes the development of sensitive diagnostic assays and antemortem sampling techniques crucial for the mitigation of its s
Authors
Nicholas J. Haley, Chris Siepker, W. David Walter, Bruce V. Thomsen, Justin J. Greenlee, Aaron D. Lehmkuhl, Jürgen a. Richt
Habitat influences distribution of chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that was first detected in 1967 in a captive research facility in Colorado. In the northeastern United States, CWD was first confirmed in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in 2005. Because CWD is a new and emerging disease with a spatial distribution that had yet to be assessed in the Northeast, we examined demogra
Authors
Tyler S. Evans, Megan S. Kirchgessner, B. Eyler, Christopher W. Ryan, W. David Walter
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 28
Spatial ecology of urban striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in the Northern Great Plains: A framework for future oral rabies vaccination programs
Few studies have investigated the ecology of urban striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) despite their role as a primary rabies vector species paired with an ability to thrive in these landscapes. Information on home range, nightly movements, and habitat selection, is important for rabies management planning regarding the placement of oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits and for management of skunk populaAuthorsAnna L. Schneider, Amy T. Gilbert, W. David Walter, Gregory S. Vandeberg, Jason R. BoulangerHeterogeneity of a landscape influences size of home range in a North American cervid
In the northeastern United States, chronic wasting disease has recently been detected in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations, and understanding the relationship between landscape configuration and home range may improve disease surveillance and containment efforts. The objectives of our study were to compare size of home range for deer occupying a continuum of forested landscapeAuthorsW. David Walter, Tyler S. Evans, David Stainbrook, Bret D. Wallingford, Christopher S. Rosenberry, Duane R. DiefenbachIncorporating detection probability to estimate pheasant density
ndices of abundance, such as point counts, commonly are used to monitor trends in bird populations. In some circumstances, however, an index of abundance provides insufficient information for making management decisions and accurate density estimates are necessary. Wild ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were translocated to 10 study areas in Pennsylvania from 2007 to 2014 with the goal oAuthorsLacey T. Williamson, W. David Walter, Scott R. Klinger, Duane R. DiefenbachChronic wasting disease—Status, science, and management support by the U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigates chronic wasting disease (CWD) at multiple science centers and cooperative research units across the Nation and supports the management of CWD through science-based strategies. CWD research conducted by USGS scientists has three strategies: (1) to understand the biology, ecology, and causes and distribution of CWD; (2) to assess and predict the spreadAuthorsChristina M. Carlson, M. Camille Hopkins, Natalie T. Nguyen, Bryan J. Richards, Daniel P. Walsh, W. David WalterInfluence of precipitation and crop germination on resource selection by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in southwest Colorado
Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations in the western United States provide many benefits to local economies but can also cause considerable damage to agriculture, particularly damage to lucrative crops. Limited information exists to understand resource selection of mule deer in response to annual variation in crop rotation and climatic conditions. We tested the hypothesis that mule deer seleAuthorsEmily M. Carrollo, Heather E. Johnson, Justin W. Fischer, Matthew Hammond, Patricia D. Dorsey, Charles Anderson, Kurt C. Vercauteren, W. David WalterCWDPRNP: A tool for cervid prion sequence analysis in program R
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal, neurological disease caused by an infectious prion protein, which affects economically and ecologically important members of the family Cervidae. Single nucleotide polymorphisms within the prion protein gene have been linked to differential susceptibility to the disease in many species. Wildlife managers are seeking to determine the frequencies of disease-associAuthorsWilliam L. Miller, W. David WalterWinter and summer home ranges of American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) captured at loafing sites in the southeastern United States
Satellite telemetry was used to investigate summer and winter home ranges for resident and migrant American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) captured in the southeastern United States between 2002 and 2007. Home range utilization distributions were calculated using 50% and 95% kernel density estimators with the plug-in bandwidth selector. Mean summer home ranges (95%) varied from 177 toAuthorsD. Tommy King, Justin W. Fischer, Bronson K. Strickland, W. David Walter, Fred L. Cunningham, Guiming WangEvaluating a strategy to deliver vaccine to white-tailed deer at a landscape level
Effective delivery of vaccines and other pharmaceuticals to wildlife populations is needed when zoonotic diseases pose a risk to public health and natural resources or have considerable economic consequences. The objective of our study was to develop a bait-distribution strategy for potential delivery of oral bovine tuberculosis (bTB) vaccine to white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) where deeAuthorsJustin W. Fischer, Chad R. Blass, W. David Walter, Charles W. Anderson, Michael J. Lavelle, Wayne H. Hall, Kurt C. VerCauterrenEffects of repeated simulated removal activities on feral swine movements and space use
Abundance and distribution of feral swine (Sus scrofa) in the USA have increased dramatically during the last 30 years. Effective measures are needed to control and eradicate feral swine populations without displacing animals over wider areas. Our objective was to investigate effects of repeated simulated removal activities on feral swine movements and space use. We analyzed location data from 21AuthorsJustin W. Fischer, Dan McMurtry, Chad R. Blass, W. David Walter, Jeff Beringer, Kurt C. VerCauterrenSeeded amplification of chronic wasting disease prions in nasal brushings and recto-anal mucosal associated lymphoid tissues from elk by real time quaking-induced conversion
Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids, was first documented nearly 50 years ago in Colorado and Wyoming and has since been detected across North America and the Republic of Korea. The expansion of this disease makes the development of sensitive diagnostic assays and antemortem sampling techniques crucial for the mitigation of its spread; this is especiAuthorsNicholas J. Haley, Chris Siepker, Laura L. Hoon-Hanks, Gordon Mitchell, W. David Walter, Matteo Manca, Ryan J. Monello, Jenny G. Powers, Margaret A. Wild, Edward A. Hoover, Byron Caughey, Jürgen a. RichtAntemortem detection of chronic wasting disease prions in nasal brush collections and rectal biopsies from white-tailed deer by real time quaking-induced conversion
Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids, was first documented nearly 50 years ago in Colorado and Wyoming and has since spread to cervids in 23 states, two Canadian provinces, and the Republic of Korea. The expansion of this disease makes the development of sensitive diagnostic assays and antemortem sampling techniques crucial for the mitigation of its sAuthorsNicholas J. Haley, Chris Siepker, W. David Walter, Bruce V. Thomsen, Justin J. Greenlee, Aaron D. Lehmkuhl, Jürgen a. RichtHabitat influences distribution of chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that was first detected in 1967 in a captive research facility in Colorado. In the northeastern United States, CWD was first confirmed in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in 2005. Because CWD is a new and emerging disease with a spatial distribution that had yet to be assessed in the Northeast, we examined demograAuthorsTyler S. Evans, Megan S. Kirchgessner, B. Eyler, Christopher W. Ryan, W. David Walter - Software