The massachusetts division of fisheries and wildlife is the state agency responsible for the protection, and conservation of the inland fish and wildlife in the commonwealth of massachusetts including…

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife received a $773,300 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Zoonotic Disease Initiative (CFDA 15.069) program. The grant will support the development of an interagency task force to build zoonotic disease resilience and prevention related to emerging wildlife health issues in Massachusetts. Key deliverables include disease response plans for terrestrial, aquatic, and avian taxa; disease surveillance and testing; training programs for staff on safe sampling practices, shipping procedures, and conflict resolution; and a public education communication plan. The University of Massachusetts and Cornell University will serve as subrecipients to assist with certain deliverables. The overall goal is to improve Massachusetts' capacity to address emerging wildlife health threats and lay the groundwork for future program expansion in the New England region. The three-year project period began in June 2023.

The massachusetts division of fisheries and wildlife is the state agency responsible for the protection, and conservation of the inland fish and wildlife in the commonwealth of massachusetts including threatened and endangered plants and animals. The purpose of this project is to develop an interagency task force consisting of subject area experts including tribal partners, cooperating institutions, public health officials and agricultural agencies to build zoonotic resilience and prevention related to new and emerging wildlife health issues. Activities to be performed under this grant will include development of disease response plans for terrestrial, aquatic, and avian taxa disease surveillance and testing develop and implement training programs for staff on safe practices for sample collection, proper shipping procedures, and conflict resolution and develop and implement a robust wildlife health communication plan for educating the public on disease prevention strategies using both intra and interagency coordination. Overall, this project will improve the capacity for massachusetts to address emerging wildlife health issues while laying the groundwork for future program growth and acting as a resource model for further program development across new england. These activities are designed to benefit both the public and the wildlife resources of the commonwealth. Subrecipients will include the university of massachusetts and cornell university.