Wildlife Investigations Laboratory

The Wildlife Investigations Laboratory (WIL) was established in 1941, as mandated by Fish and Wildlife Code Section 1008 to conduct wildlife disease investigations. The WIL provides expertise, training, and resources to assist CDFW personnel in assessing wildlife populations, wildlife mortality response, biological sampling, wildlife captures, wildlife rehabilitation, study design, and analyses. The mission of the WIL is to investigate, monitor, and manage wildlife population health issues in California.

WIL's responsibilities have expanded over the years to include the statewide investigation of all wildlife mortality events, studies and surveillance of zoonotic diseases (enzootic, epizootic), wildlife health monitoring, wildlife rehabilitation, human-wildlife conflicts, the Human Dimensions of Wildlife, safety training, and investigations of public safety wildlife such as mountain lions, black bears, coyotes, large exotic carnivores, and deer.

WIL responsibilities include:

• Wildlife Disease Surveillance & Investigation
• Wildlife Capture & Restraint
• Biological Sampling Standards
• Coordinate Wildlife Rehabilitation & Restricted Species (oversight)
• Training (Wildlife Handling & Restraint Classes, Necropsy)
• Scientific Development - (design/analysis/reporting)
• Pesticide impacts on wildlife & regulations

See Wildlife Investigations Lab Peer Reviewed Publications 2009 - 2015 (PDF) for more information on contributions to projects.