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Moose cow with two calves in water

Population Impacts

Many threats impact wildlife at the population level, including diseases that cause mass mortality events. We research health issues in free-ranging wildlife, spanning across species from bald eagles to moose. Additionally, we are advancing the frontier of health research to assess impacts at the population level to better incorporate veterinary medicine into population-scale conservation. Research at all scales merges, allowing us to explore how best to protect the long-term sustainability of our wildlife populations.

Birds at Risk

Bald eagle in a tree

Population Dynamics of Bald Eagles in the Northeast US

A tool to integrate information from veterinary science and ecology to discover interesting and exciting facts where mathematics, computer science, resource management, and ornithology converge.

Bald eagle and eaglets in nest

Lead in eagles: Where do we go from here?

Researching the impact of lead on bald eagle population health

Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) about to land on a tree limb

Eagles in peril: Lead poses unseen danger to both birds and humans

The impact of lead on wildlife and the environment has been a concern for over two decades. Wildlife losses due to lead poisoning, particularly in raptor species, has been linked to lead ammunition.

bald eagle eating from a carcass

What You Leave Behind - Lead Ammo Risk to Wildlife Species

Understanding one's impact on the environment through what you leave behind, and how that, along with the use of lead ammunition, affects wildlife.

Female duck with ducklings at pond edge

Waterfowl Contaminant Study

Measuring chemical contaminant loads in waterfowl to assess the health of waterfowl and the potential impact on hunters who consume them.

Diseases that Cause Population Impacts

thumbnail of RHDV fact sheet

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) is highly contagious with high mortality rates (up to 100%) and affects lagomorphs (rabbits, hares, and pikas).

thumbnail of AI fact sheet

Avian Influenza

Avian influenza (AI) viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.

Thumbnail of fact sheet; click on image to download PDF

Chytridiomycosis

Chytridiomycosis is an infectious disease of amphibians caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). It is an emerging disease that significantly impacts amphibian populations worldwide.

Thumbnail of fact sheet; click on image to download PDF

Morbillivirus

Morbilliviruses are paramyxoviruses that cause significant disease outbreaks with high mortality rates in some marine mammals.

Thumbnail of fact sheet; click on image to download PDF

Avian Trichomonosis

Avian trichomonosis, a contagious disease of the upper digestive tract of birds, is caused by Trichomonas gallinae, a single-celled protozoan parasite.

thumbnail of perkinsea fact sheet

Perkinsea Infection

Severe Perkinsea Infection (SPI) is a disease of tadpoles caused by parasitic single-celled organisms in fresh water.

thumbnail of WNS fact sheet

White-Nose Syndrome

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is caused by a fungus that thrives in the cold, humid conditions characteristic of hibernacula, underground caves or mines where bats overwinter. The fungus grows on the nose, wings, and ears of bats during hibernation in the winter months. The mortality rate is often as high as 90-100%. Millions of bats have died from WNS since 2006.

thumbnail of ranavirus fact sheet

Ranavirus

Mass die-offs attributed to ranavirus have affected several species of amphibians and turtles, and the virus can also have fatal consequences for fish and reptiles. All life stages are potentially susceptible.

Thumbnail of fact sheet; click on image to download PDF

Sphaeridiotrema

Sphaeridiotrema globulus is an intestinal parasite (trematode or fluke) that can cause severe disease in some waterfowl, especially in diving ducks, swans, and, occasionally, coots.

Explore More Topics

Chronic Wasting Disease
eDNA
Surveillance: Tools & Data
Threats on the Horizon
Wildlife Health in Practice
Zoonotic Risks

Support the CWHL

Your gift will protect and improve the health and sustainability of free-ranging wildlife populations. Thank you for partnering with us on our mission.

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Connect With Us

Animal Health Diagnostic Center
240 Farrier Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

cwhl@cornell.edu

607-253-3900

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Cornell K. Lisa Yang Center for Wildlife Health

Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital

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