Helen Schwantje BC Wildlife Veterinarian 2016 BCWF AGM and Convention

Helen Schwantje BC Wildlife Veterinarian 2016 BCWF AGM and Convention

Wildlife Health Program Staff Services Threats Emerging diseases Species at Risk health Priority diseases and species Zoonotic disease/human health Needs

Staff - province-wide, one vet, one biologist Services to regional FLNRO and MOE staff (Conservation Officer Service), First Nations, other governmental and nongovernmental agencies/organizations, post secondary institutions and the public wild animal care, restraint, handling, and welfare; disease diagnosis and response; population health assessments; application of research techniques; policy and management; forensic activities; sampling and monitoring; risk assessment and mitigation

What is health? Just absence of disease? Productivity Sustainability Ability to cope with stress and change All the above?

3 cases: Abnormal haircoat Lumps on head Apparently blind Unknown Unknown Trauma + infection?

Bighorn - young ram Observed weak, thin, hairloss, severe scabs Psoroptic mange confirmed by necropsy Is the herd affected? What are impacts on population?

Examples: White Nose Syndrome Bats, huge risk, poor knowledge Others IF we look (or the media does) E. multilocularis Avian Influenza, West Nile, Rabies, Leptospirosis, Cryptococcus, Tularemia, Plague, Lyme s, Hantavirus, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis Expect more with climate change?

Recognized in eastern US in 2006 Cause is a non-native fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans or Pd Results in severe physiological changes/death

Huge jump to Pacific Northwest - E of Seattle 1 x Little Brown bat affected BC next? public outreach sample submission research, support, protection of bat populations

Woodland - Mountain/Boreal Caribou Assess health: with genetics, nutrition - create a Caribou Herd Health Model Enhanced management: translocation, maternity penning, captive breeding?

Wood + Plains Bison Disease surveillance: TB, brucellosis, others Uncontrollable animal movement: encourage FN harvest and train to sample

Surveillance of cervid species Focus - to reduce the risk: Outreach to hunters 2010 Wildlife Act Regulation No import of live or dead cervids For confidence, we need more : Awareness Samples in Peace!

Federally reportable >1 BC cattle herds in last decade Obligation - look for disease in cervids Surveillance in MU 8-23 - huge challenge for enough samples

Partnering with MAg and CFIA One more year of surveillance > 300 samples for confidence Outreach/sample collection is not resulting in enough samples Need to cull??...

BC interior declines Capture and radiocollar cows Sample and assess, for first time in BC: Body condition, general health Standardized data and sample collections Cause of death

Apply caribou model: Assess for diseases + parasites in moose populations Interpret and track findings Use information - Natural Resource decision makers can make more informed decisions

Causes elsewhere: Predation, harvest Temperature increase/climate change Infectious disease/parasites Nutrition Stress, genetics For BC some ruled out, STAY TUNED

Bighorn pneumonia All-age dieoffs Persistent lamb mortality Disease transmission from domestic sheep/goat contact Program established Thinhorn sheep high value More info and proactive management needed

Maintain healthy domestic and wild sheep by: Education/outreach Risk assessments, research on disease, contact mapping Mediation Regulations private + public lands

Zoonotic diseases Investigations/surveillance with First Nations, public health Collaborate via outreach, training, research Contaminants From Country Foods lead shot/natural minerals, spills More industrial development more exposure Need baselines to interpret More collaborations

Community relationships Collaborate, start talking Standard protocols: Observations eg. winter ticks Samples - test for? Introduce - Moose Health Assessment Model Community workshops ID key individuals Provide supplies and ongoing support

Build Health Database Create baseline Interpret, track over time Identify potential risks Diseases, parasites Contaminants? Provide common ground and more data to make better/more timely decisions ***Five Nations participating now

Samples + observations for: Targeted surveillance WNS, CWD, TB, others Baseline information Herd Health models, assessment of cumulative effects The challenge: Sample numbers Sample location Sample quality

Create a Healthy Wildlife Partnership WLH NEEDS funding/advice/assistance A proposal (challenge to you): BCWF (the herd) leads in outreach to members - stimulates interest, links to wildlife health program, resources BCWF (the individuals) engage and lead locally Citizen science increases capacity + stewardship Better data, better wildlife management

Surveillance - White Nose Syndrome, CWD, BTB, etc. Boreal and Mountain Caribou herd health Post doc Boreal caribou - U of Calgary Captive breeding Parks Canada, U of Calgary Moose herd health provincial project Wild sheep herd health Thinhorns genetics, health - universities, regions Wild Sheep Separation and health HCTF, regions Bighorn psoroptic mange PhD U of SK, regions First Nations/community based wildlife health Wildlife herd health/cumulative effects monitoring Others depends on what s next how and where can you help?

Thank you Questions?

Wildlife management needs a standard approach to assess/manage the potential for impacts of natural resource development for wildlife health and the (human) health of wildlife dependent communities Precautionary principle currently used to avoid impacts on wildlife but is it effective? Better an existing baseline with monitoring allows coordinated planning, enables economic activities, reduces likelihood/extent of impacts on the health and sustainability of wildlife