Priority Action Report

Wildlife Forensics

Biology/DNA SAC

M. Katherine Moore, Chair

Mary K. Burnham-Curtis, Vice Chair

February 22, 2016
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Subcommittee Leadership

Position Name Organization Term Email

Chair Kathy Moore, M.S. NOAA Northwest 

Fisheries Science Center 

Forensic Laboratory

2 Kathy.Moore@noaa.gov

Vice Chair Mary Burnham Curtis, Ph.D. USFWS National Fish and 

Wildlife Forensics 

Laboratory

2 Mary_Curtis@fws.gov

Executive 

Secretary

Kim Frazier, M.S. Wyoming Game and Fish, 

Wildlife Forensic and Fish 

Health Laboratory

4 Kim.Frazier@wyo.gov

3
Subcommittee Members

# Name Organization Term Email

1 Tasha Bauman, M.S. 

(HFC Liaison)

Wyoming Game and Fish, Wildlife Forensic and Fish 

Health Laboratory

4 Tasha.Bauman@wyo.gov

2 Jason Byrd, Ph.D. 

(LRC Liaison)

University of Florida 2 Jhbyrd@ufl.edu

3 Christina Lindquist, M.S. 

(QIC Liaison)

U. California-Davis, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory 

Forensic Unit

2 Cdlindquist@ucdavis.edu

4 Trey Knott, M.S. 

(Kavi Liaison)

NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center Forensic 

Laboratory

3 Trey.Knott@noaa.gov

5 Christopher O’Brien, Ph.D. University of New Haven 4 Rcobrien@newhaven.edu

6 David Foran, Ph.D. Michigan State University 3 Foran@msu.edu

7 Jenny Giles, Ph.D. Consultant 4 jennylgiles@gmail.com

8 Pepper Trail, Ph.D. USFWS National Fish and Wildlife Forensics 

Laboratory

2 Pepper_Trail@fws.gov

9 Brandt Cassidy, Ph.D. DNA Solutions, Inc. 3 Bgcassidy@cox.net

10 John Planz, Ph.D. University of North Texas Health Sciences University 3 john.planz@unthsc.edu

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The Wildlife Forensics 

Subcommittee will focus on 

standards and guidelines related 

to taxonomic identification, 

individualization, and 

geographic origin of non-human 

biological evidence based on 

morphological and genetic 

analyses.

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Discipline Description
Summary of Standards/Guidelines 

Priority Actions

Priority Working Title of Document

1 General Standards for Wildlife Forensic Practice

2 Report Writing Standards

3 Terminology 

4 DNA Standards

5 Morphology Standards

6 Validation - holding pattern

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Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 1

Document Title: General Standards for Wildlife Forensic Practice

Scope: This document provides minimum standards and recommendations for 

practicing wildlife forensic analysts. This document covers good laboratory practices, 

evidence handling, and training as well as considerations of phylogeny, taxonomy, and 

reference collections that are specific to wildlife forensic science.

These minimum standards and recommendations are not intended to replace 

standards in ISO 17025 or other forensic laboratory standards, but are designed to provide 

guidance for small laboratories and part-time practitioners who are outside of traditional 

forensic laboratories.

Objective/rationale: Standardize laboratory best practices for wildlife forensic 

practitioners.

Issues/Concerns: Acceptance in the SDO process

Task Group Name: Standards and Guidelines TG

Task Group Chair Name: Chris O’Brien

Task Group Chair Contact Information: rcobrien@newhaven.edu

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: 28/Jan/2016

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Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 1 Document - General Standards

Key Components of Standard: 

Training and Personnel

Evidence Handling

Equipment and Methods

Reference Materials and 

Collections

Case Documentation

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Standards/Guidelines for Reference

Title Organization

SWGWILD Standards and Guidelines, v. 2.0 SWGWILD

Quality Assurance Standards FBI

ISFG Recommendations IFSG

ISO 17025:2005 ISO

Guide 19: Modules in a Forensic Science Process ILAC

Supplemental Requirements for the Accreditation of Forensic Testing 

Laboratories

ASCLD/LAB

Forensic Requirements for Accreditation (FRA-1:2008/1) FQS/ANAB

Primary literature publications n/a

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Topic 1:General Standards for WF Practice
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 2

Document Title: Wildlife Forensic Report Writing Standard

Scope: This document describes the information to be provided in reports of 

wildlife forensic examinations. Requirements for both genetic and 

morphological examination reports are covered. Forensic reports serve a 

variety of audiences, and must provide a clear and concise summary of 

methods, results, and conclusions for the use of the investigator, the court, 

and the litigants.

Objective/rationale: Standardize components included in wildlife forensic 

reporting documents

Issues/Concerns: Acceptance in the SDO process

Task Group Name: Report Writing TG

Task Group Chair Name: Pepper Trail

Task Group Chair Contact Information: pepper_trail@fws.gov

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: 28/Jan/2016

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Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 2 Document - Report Writing

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Key Components of Standard: 

Chain of custody information

Examination Requested

Examination Conducted

Examination Results

Examination Conclusions
Standards/Guidelines for Reference

Title Organization

SWGWILD Report Writing Guidelines (DRAFT) SWGWILD

SWGWILD Standards and Guidelines, v. 2.0 SWGWILD

Quality Assurance Standards FBI

ISFG Recommendations IFSG

Primary literature publications n/a

20 documents from the Catalog under the topic 

‘reporting’

various

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Topic 2: Report Writing
Priority 3: Terminology

Priority Level: High

Suggested Path: SDO

• Terminology and definitions as used in Wildlife Forensics

• Genetics (cross-discipline) 

• Morphology

• SAC-level Task Group established

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Task Group Name: Terminology

Task Group Chair Name: Mary Burnham Curtis

Task Group Chair Contact Information: Mary_Curtis@fws.gov
Standards/Guidelines for reference

Title Organization

Terminology section of: SWGWILD Standards and 

Guidelines, v. 2.0 SWGWILD

Terminology section of: SWGWILD Report Writing 

Guidelines (DRAFT) SWGWILD

ASTM standards (several) for forensic terminology ASTM

SWGDAM terminology SWGDAM

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Terminology
Standards/Guidelines Reviewed For 

Technical Merit

Title Developing 

Organization Status*

OSAC 

Process 

Stage (e.g., 

RA 100)

Wildlife Forensics General 

Standards

Wildlife Sub Submitted for 

Review

SDO-300

Wildlife Forensics Report 

Writing Standards

Wildlife Sub Ready for 

Submission to 

SAC

SDO-300

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Research Gaps Identified

Develop STR Panels

Validate Existing STR Panels

Geographic Assignment

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Upper Columbia River Chinook

The Upper Columbia River has 

two sympatric populations of 

Chinook salmon 

(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

• Spring-run (endangered ESA)

• Summer-run (not listed)

UCRsp

UCRsu/fa

SRsp/su

SSRRffaa

MCRsp

LCR

UWR

DRsu/fa
Summary

Rank Topic Area

1 General Standards for WF 

Practice

2 Report Writing Standards

3 Terminology

4 DNA Standards

5 Morphology Standards

6 Standardized STR panels

7 Validation

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• Liaise with cross-discipline 

groups

• Meet regularly and review 

documents

• Draft new standards for SDO 

approval

• Initiate SDO process for General 

and Reporting Standards