Protection of natural resources: assessing sites of host contact, CWD transmission and cross-species spillover

The University of Wyoming received a $224,800 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) under the Wildlife Services program (CFDA 10.028), awarded on September 30, 2025, with completion scheduled for September 29, 2026. This award funds research and assessment activities focused on protecting natural resources through the identification and evaluation of sites related to host contact, chronic wasting disease (CWD) transmission, and cross-species disease spillover. The project supports the Wildlife Services program's mission to reduce damage caused by wildlife species serving as reservoirs for zoonotic diseases through applied research, surveillance techniques, and methods development.

The University of Wyoming will deliver technical and scientific research services addressing wildlife disease ecology and transmission dynamics, leveraging the institution's established expertise in environmental science, biological research, and natural resource management. Deliverables are expected to include site assessments, disease transmission data analysis, and research findings that contribute to evidence-based wildlife management strategies and disease control efforts. This cooperative agreement represents collaboration between the federal agency and the university to advance scientific understanding of wildlife disease reservoirs and transmission mechanisms critical to natural resource protection and disease mitigation objectives.