Projects and Research

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Projects

Active Projects​

​Muskrat Study

The long-term decline in muskrat populations is of concern to wildlife agencies across the U.S.  Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resource's participation in this multistate study examining pathogens and toxicants in muskrats will provide valuable new data and inform wildlife professionals as to whether there are pathogen and toxicant threats to muskrats that could impact their fecundity, immunity, or survival. Results of this study will guide future management efforts and conservation of muskrat populations. The project is funded through the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agency's Multistate Conservation Grant Program. ​​

Project Partners
The project is a collaboration between several state fish and wildlife agencies, including Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, and the University of Georgia.  ​

Tick Surveillance Project

​Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is collecting ticks from five Kentucky Fish and Wildlife wildlife management areas (WMAs) across Kentucky to genus and screen for known zoonotic pathogens. Results from the project will be summarized and shared with the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

Project Partners
Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study

Publications​

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Williams, K.E., N.D. Hooven, J.T. Hast, C.L. Casey, N.M. Nemeth, A. Weyna, M.T. Springer, J.J. Cox. 2023. Vertebral malformation in a neonatal elk born in southeastern Kentucky. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 59(3): 532-535.

Casey, C.L., S.L. Rathbun, D.E. Stallknecht, M.G. Ruder. 2021. Spatial analysis of the 2017 outbreak of hemorrhagic disease and physiographic region in the eastern United States. Viruses 13(4): 550.​

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Partners

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The Wildlife Health Program routinely partners and collaborates with State and Federal agencies as well as academic institutions (a full list of our partners can be found on our about page). 

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