1. To enhance operational capacity of the detector DOG program. 2. Infrastructure improvement - construct a permanent roof covering over existing kennel facilities to protect canine teams from extreme…

The University of Guam received a $362,460 Project Grant award dated November 6, 2025, from the Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs under the Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories program (CFDA 15.875). The grant supports three primary deliverables through September 30, 2029: enhancement of the detector dog program's operational capacity; infrastructure improvement through construction of a permanent roof covering over existing kennel facilities to protect canine teams from extreme weather and extend operational readiness and animal welfare; and a two-year genetic surveillance initiative to track the spread and genetic diversity of the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) in Guam, with specific emphasis on detecting and mapping the distribution of Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (ORNV).

This award aligns with the Office of Insular Affairs' mission to support natural resource management and invasive species control in U.S. territories. The project combines biosecurity and animal welfare objectives through facility improvements while simultaneously advancing scientific understanding of CRB population genetics and viral pathogen distribution—critical data for informing long-term pest management strategies in Guam. University of Guam, as Guam's only public four-year institution and sole land-grant university in the Western Pacific region, brings established expertise in invasive species monitoring and control through its cooperative agreements with USDA and Department of Interior bureaus.

1. To enhance operational capacity of the detector DOG program. 2. Infrastructure improvement - construct a permanent roof covering over existing kennel facilities to protect canine teams from extreme weather, extending operational readiness and animal welfare. 3. Genetic surveillance - conduct a two-year population genetics study to track the spread and genetic diversity of CRB in guam, with emphasis on O. Rhinoceros nudivirus (ORNV) detection and distribution.