Reportable Wildlife Disease

​​​​​​The Reportable Wildlife Disease regulation is​ effective as of 09/18/2025. This regulation, 301 KAR 4:120​, requires that all diseases listed below that have occured in fish and wildlife be reported to the State Wildlife Veterinarian within 48 hours of confirmation.

Explanation of regulation: KRS 150.015 charges the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources with the duty to protect, preserve and conserve the fish and wildlife resources of the Commonwealth.  KRS ​150.025 (1)(h) allows the Department to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of KRS Chapter 150.  Because of the impact of certain diseases fou​​​​nd in livestock and poultry to the native fish and wildlife populations, the Department believes it is necessary to establish a listing of all reportable diseases which can be transmitted to fish and wildlife and set out the conditions under which the diseases shall be reported. This administrative regulation establishes a comprehensive list of reportable diseases and the conditions under which the diseases shall be reported.

​​​Animal Control Euthanasia Specialists:

​Authorized Animal Control Officers that meet certain qualifications as outlined by the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners in 201 KAR 16:560 may euthanize wildlife that they suspect of having a reportable disease as identified in 301 KAR 4:120

To qualify for this authorization, animal control officers must submit to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources:

- Proof they possess a valid Animal Euthanasia Specialist (AES) certification (as per ​​​​​KRS 321.207 and 201 KAR 16:560)

- Proof they completed and passed a San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Academy (SDZWAA) Safe Capture Training course in Chemical Immobilization of Wildlife

​However, wildlife should NOT be trapped or taken from the environment without a valid Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator permit (as per 301 KAR 3:120) or with a valid trapping license during a legal trapping season for that species according to KRS 150.175 and 301 KAR 2:251.


Please see the links below for more information​.

Certified Animal Euthanasia Specialist Annual Wildlife Euthanasia Report


​Diseases to be reported:

    (1) The following diseases and conditions shall be immediately reported to the KDFWR Wildlife Veterinarian:

    (a) Algal toxicosis;

    (b) Anaplasmosis;

    (c) Anthrax;

    (d) Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Chytridiomycosis);

    (e) Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Chytridiomycosis);

    (f) Bluetongue;

    (g) Botulism;

    (h) Brucellosis;

    (i) Canine Distemper Virus;

    (j) Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD);

    (k) Clostridium piliforme (Tyzzer's Disease);

    (l) Duck virus enteritis (Duck Plague);

    (m) Echinococcus spp. (Echinococcosis);

    (n) Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease;

    (o) Hantaviruses;

    (p) Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza;

    (q) Histomoniasis (Blackhead disease);

    (r) Lead Toxicosis;

    (s) Leptospira interogans ssp. (Leptospirosis);

    (t) Mycoplasma gallisepticum;

    (u) Mycoplasma agassizii;

    (v) Mycotoxicosis (aflatoxins and fusariotoxins);

    (w) Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Snake fungal disease);

    (x) Paratuberculosis (Johne's disease);

    (y) Plague (Yersinia pestis);

    (z) Pseudogymnoascus destructans (White-nose Syndrome);

    (aa) Pseudorabies;

    (bb) Rabies;​

    (cc) Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus;

    (dd) Ranavirus;

    (ee) Salmonellosis (Salmonella enterica, all serovars);

    (ff) SARS-CoV-2;

    (gg) Sarcoptes scabiei (Sarcoptic Mange);

    (hh) Theileriosis;

    (ii) Trichinellosis;

    (jj) Tuberculosis;

    (kk) Tularemia;

    (ll) Virulent Newcastle Disease;

    (mm) Vesicular Stomatitis;

    (nn) West Nile Virus (WNV);

    (oo) Any additional diseases or conditions list by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Listed Diseases including the Terrestrial Animal and Aquatic Animal disease list; and

    (pp) Any disease or condition listed in the United Stated Department of Agriculture National List of Reportable Animal Diseases (NLRAD),

    (2) Conditions of any etiology that meet any of the following criteria shall be reported immediately:

    (a) Chemical poisoning in wildlife and fish involving anticoagulant rodenticides, heavy metals, and pesticides.

    (b) Encephalitis or other central nervous system disease;

    (c) Unusual morbidity or mortality event in free-ranging wildlife, captive wildlife, and fish; or

    (d) Highly infectious conditions of any etiology, known or unknown.


WORLD ORGANIZATION OF ANIMAL HEALTH

USDA ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE










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