Established in 1941, the wildlife health laboratory (WHL, formerly the wildlife investigations laboratory) within the california department of fish and wildlife (cdfw) is mandated to provide service…

Established in 1941, the wildlife health laboratory (WHL, formerly the wildlife investigations laboratory) within the california department of fish and wildlife (cdfw) is mandated to provide service and expertise to respond to any wildlife morbidity and mortality event in california. This responsibility requires the need for extensive communication, coordination, and training with other agencies, cdfw regional and law enforcement staff, and the public. This is particularly important for supporting staff in cdfw wildlife management, habitat conservation, and lands (e.g., waterfowl botulism avian cholera, ungulate hemorrhagic disease events, pesticide usage in illegal cannabis grows). The WHL s mission is to investigate, monitor, and manage wildlife population health issues in california. As the definition of health has broadened so has WHL s duties and responsibilities. In addition to providing leadership, training, and direction for statewide response to wildlife disease and mortality events, wildlife capture, and animal welfare, WHL has leadership roles in scientific development that includes collaborative support of project development, study design, analysis, and reporting. Through these and other roles, the WHL supports and leads projects that touch on most aspects of terrestrial wildlife in california. The WHL oversees the collection and analysis of biological samples from wildlife for disease surveillance and mortality morbidity investigations. Veterinarians and biologists at WHL conduct necropsies develop and implement wildlife disease surveillance, monitoring, and management programs and train cdfw staff and partners in disease investigations and sampling as necessary to monitor the health and condition of wildlife populations and to aid managers in evaluating potential effects that may influence harvest regulations. Disease surveillance programs managed by the WHL for california s species include, but are not limited to, chronic wasting disease (CWD), treponeme-associated hoof disease (tahd), and mycoplasma ovipneumoniae. Epidemiologic data from these efforts provide valuable information needed for effective wildlife management as animals are affected by drought conditions and climate change, wildfire, and emerging infectious diseases, including sars-COV-2 and rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHDV2), that are increasing in or threatening wildlife populations. In addition to disease surveillance and management, the WHL supports species management programs at cdfw by providing expertise and training in the safe capture and handling of wildlife, data collection, study design, genetics, and investigations for pesticides and contaminants. The WHL is managing more and more species-related samples and data collected through animal captures and disease investigations. Increasingly, the WHL is providing leadership, training, and expertise for human wildlife conflicts associated with game species such as mountain lions, black bears, coyotes, deer, and ELK.