Wildlife Health Laboratory

Wildlife Disease Surveillance

WHL conducts disease surveillance of wild populations to monitor pathogens of conservation concern in California, including viral, fungal, and parasitic infections.​​​​​​ Biological samples and other data are collected to analyze wildlife health, population trends, demographics, and more. Mortality reporting is one way to improve our ability to detect emerging health threats. You can help!

• Wildlife Diseases
• REPORT WILDLIFE MORTALITY
• Safe Handling and Carcass Disposal Protocol

WHL staff also monitor disease outbreaks among feral domestic ducks and geese, exotic cervids, and game farm species. Disease surveillance efforts are often coordinated with research partners, federal, state, and local agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (APHIS) and California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory.

Wildlife Health Monitoring

Comprehensive baseline health data is needed to effectively conserve and manage native wildlife populations in California. Data collection techniques, such as biological sample collection, wildlife veterinarian exams, veterinary procedures, and necropsies, are valuable tools. WHL staff monitor wildlife population health using various population health indicators, such as:

• Serosurveillance
• Micronutrient levels
• Parasitism
• Body condition scoring
• Fecundity (e.g., pregnancy checks)

One representative project is WHL’s large mammal serology archive. It is one of the largest archives of its kind in the United States.

Research Support

WHL staff conduct novel research using traditional, advanced, and innovative research techniques. Program areas specialize across various disciplines of the biological and social sciences. Research efforts emphasize the interdependence of environmental, human, and wildlife health. 

• WHL Peer Reviewed Publications 2009 - 2015 (PDF)

WHL staff regularly collaborate with academic, agency, and research partners to support complex studies, special projects, and testing not available to CDFW. Collaborative research partners include USGS National Wildlife Health Center, University of California (Davis) Wildlife Health Center, and the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory.

Helicopter Captures

WHL staff help coordinate helicopter captures for various CDFW scientific projects. During captures, animals are marked, radio-collared, and disease-tested to collect data. The information generated from these applied research efforts can help inform conservation and management decisions.

• WHL provides capture expertise, coordination, personnel, and equipment; acquires and maintains specialized capture equipment, supplies and vehicles.
• WHL researches and develops new, safer and more efficient wildlife capture and handling techniques and equipment.
• Archived biological samples and capture records are retained for future and ongoing research.

Scientific Development

The Wildlife Health Laboratory (WHL) supports scientific development within and outside the Department. WHL staff offer technical assistance in statistical, quantitative and spatial analysis, genetics research, human dimensions research, and project design.

• Conduct formal staff trainings for CDFW personnel on safe wildlife restraint and capture techniques, drug protocols for safely immobilizing animals, necropsy, disease surveillance and monitoring.
• Provide technical assistance to federal, state, and local agencies, academic institutions, researchers, and other agency partners.
• Provide presentations on wildlife population health, wildlife disease, wildlife capture and handling techniques, wildlife rehabilitation, human-wildlife interactions, and animal welfare.