Wildlife Disease News Digest

TOP STORIES

Chronic wasting disease found in 8 Alberta deer
Calgary Herald - www.calgaryherald.com (source: Edmonton Journal)
21 Mar 2009
H Brooyman
Location: Alberta, Canada - Map it

Eight new cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild deer were found as part of the 2008 fall surveillance for the disease. The new cases were found among the 4,347 deer heads that have been tested since Sept. 1, 2008.

Seven of the animals were shot by hunters, and one was a road-kill collected by Fish and Wildlife staff along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. Seven of them were mule deer and one was white-tailed.

>>> FULL ARTICLE

More CWD related news

>>> DNR: No deadly disease found in 8,700 deer sampled from 18 northern Wisconsin counties

Connecticut's bat population is declining rapidly; Unusual disease may be the cause
The Redding Pilot - www.acorn-online.com (source: Hersam Acorn Newspapers)
23 Mar 2009
Location: Connecticut, USA - Map It

A syndrome that attacks hibernating bats is much more severe in Connecticut this winter than last and will lead to a dramatic reduction in the size of the state’s bat population this summer, according to state wildlife experts.

State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officials said 80% to 90% of bats in two major places where they hibernate have died after contracting white nose syndrome (WNS).

>>> FULL ARTICLE

More Bat Related News

>>> Bat disease poses unforeseen problems

>>> Virginia caves off limits

>>> Fungus Kills About 90 Percent Of Connecticut's Bats [includes 3 min video]
>>>Are cavers spreading lethal bat disease?
>>> Not All Bats Land The Same Way [some lighter news]

City to have wildlife research centre
The Times of India - timesofindia.indiatimes.com
19 Mar 2009
S Shrivastav
Location: Nagpur, India

A wildlife research centre may well become a reality in city. If the efforts of Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (Mafsu) are any indication, Nagpur may soon get the state’s maiden centre.

The university has already decided to start post-graduation course in wildlife health and management from next academic season and is tapping agencies, both at the Centre and in the state, to fund the centre.

>>> FULL ARTICLE

Global skin fungus threatens to wipe out rare Scots toad
Scotland on Sunday - scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com (source: Scotsman)
22 Mar 2009
J Watson
Location: Solway Firth, Scotland, United Kingdom - Map It

They are one of the most iconic creatures of English literature and a symbol of the health of the countryside.

But already endangered toad colonies in southern Scotland could have been damaged by a fatal disease which is wiping out amphibian populations across the world.

Government scientists have found traces of chytrid fungus in Natterjack Toads along both the northern and southern shores of the Solway Firth, where populations have steeply declined in the past two years.

>>> FULL ARTICLE

More Frog Related News

Hotel Promotes Safe Sex For Frogs [some lighter news]

OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Photo courtesy of The Guardian