The National Wildlife Disease Program assists Federal, Tribal, and State 

agencies, universities, and nongovernmental organizations in addressing 

wildlife diseases that may impact the public, U.S. livestock and poultry, or our 

Nation’s natural resources. The goals of the program are to: 

•	 Develop and implement a nationwide system to survey for wildlife 

diseases of agricultural and human health concern; and 

•	 Strengthen APHIS’ capacity to respond to a variety of emergencies, 

including natural disasters and disease outbreaks.

 In working to meet these goals, the program has developed partnerships 

and cooperative projects with:

•	 APHIS programs, including Veterinary Services and International Services;

•	 Federal entities, including the U.S. Department of the Interior and the 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and 

•	 The agriculture, health, and natural resources agencies for Canada, 

Mexico, and other nations.

 The National Wildlife Disease Program’s cooperative efforts emphasize 

sharing information and techniques, such as animal sampling, wildlife 

disease surveillance methods, and laboratory practices. When possible, 

the program also works to develop infrastructure—increasing available 

knowledge, techniques, and expertise—to respond not only to current, but 

also new and emerging animal diseases. WS wildlife disease biologists, 

working collaboratively with other Federal and State personnel, have primary 

Protecting People

Protecting Agriculture

Protecting Wildlife

Wildlife Services Factsheet

May 2014

Wildlife Disease Surveillance 

and Emergency Response

Wildlife Services (WS), a 

program within the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS), provides Federal 

leadership and expertise in 

managing conflicts between

people and wildlife to help 

protect the Nation’s agricultural 

and natural resources, property 

and infrastructure, and public 

health and safety.

Through the National Wildlife 

Disease Program, WS supports 

the APHIS mission domestically 

and internationally via 

partnerships and cooperative 

projects with Federal, State, 

Tribal, and local agencies. 

Program biologists 

monitor feral swine for 

the presence of diseases 

that can affect livestock, 

people, and pets.
responsibility for sample collection. Specifically, wildlife

disease biologists: 

•	 Collect, preserve, and ship biological samples from 

a variety of animal species according to guidelines 

established by USDA, the National Wildlife Disease 

Program, and diagnostic laboratories.

•	 Serve as liaisons in their State of responsibility among 

WS; APHIS Veterinary Services; State departments of 

health, agriculture, and natural resources; and other 

State, Tribal, and Federal agencies concerned with 

wildlife disease issues.

•	 Participate in WS disease control activities and assist 

State, Tribal, and other Federal agencies in achieving 

their disease control objectives.

•	 Respond to disease outbreaks and other 

emergencies requiring WS participation.

Emergency Response

WS is also focused on strengthening its emergency 

preparedness and response efforts—especially in 

connection with the program’s activities to protect 

U.S. animal health and to address conflicts between

people and wildlife. 

 The strategies for accomplishing the program’s 

emergency-related objectives include:

•	 Developing a more robust, nationally coordinated 

pest and disease surveillance system;

•	 Conducting disease surveillance activities at U.S. 

international borders to protect agriculture, wildlife, 

and people; and 

•	 Establishing international partnerships to enhance 

border disease surveillance programs for both 

livestock and wildlife.

 Within the National Wildlife Disease Program, a 

nationally coordinated surveillance and emergency 

response system (SERS) supports existing surveillance 

and monitoring activities; facilitates information 

sharing among involved partners; promotes the further 

development of laboratory infrastructure (such as 

personnel, equipment, and procedures); and responds 

to a variety of wildlife-related emergency requests 

from USDA, other Federal agencies, and States by 

coordinating and activating APHIS WS’ first responders.

 Through SERS, program employees work closely 

with the National Animal Health Laboratory Network 

(NAHLN). NAHLN laboratories, which undergo an 

accreditation and validation process, provide support for 

routine diagnostic work and critical surge capacity for 

laboratory testing, a crucial service in large-scale animal 

disease outbreaks. 

 During emergencies, SERS works with the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency and local governments 

to formulate effective and efficient responses. Wildlife

disease biologists are available to respond quickly and 

assist with disease outbreaks and other emergency 

activities that require their unique skills and abilities. 

International Activities

Neither wildlife, nor the diseases they carry, recognize 

international borders. Therefore, effective interagency 

and international coordination are both critically 

important to facilitate trade while continuing to protect 

U.S. wildlife and agricultural resources. The National 

Wildlife Disease Program works with numerous agencies 

and international partners to identify animal and public 

health threats outside U.S. borders and to reduce those 

threats at the source. 

Wildlife disease biologists are available to respond quickly and 

assist with disease outbreaks and other emergency activities that 

require their unique skills and abilities.
Current Diseases of Interest

Avian influenza

Bluetongue disease

Bovine tuberculosis

Chronic wasting disease

Classical swine fever

Foot-and-mouth disease

Leptospirosis

Newcastle disease

Plague

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome

Pseudorabies

Rabies

Swine brucellosis

Swine influenza

Tularemia

Learn More 

For more information about wildlife diseases, contact 

any State APHIS-WS office, toll-free at 1-866-4USDA-WS

(1-866-487-3297). For the address and telephone

number of State offices, call the WS Operational Support

staff at (301) 851-4009, or visit the WS Web site at

www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage. 

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, 

sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 

communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, 

SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.