Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study
Providing continuous service since 1957 for the health of this nation's wildlife resources, domestic livestock, and peopleThe Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study was founded in 1957 by the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to determine the cause of widespread die-offs of white-tailed deer. Headquarters and support facilities were made available through agreement with The University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine in Athens, Georgia. This became the first diagnostic and research service to be established for the specific purpose of investigating wildlife diseases.
Since then, SCWDS has for nearly 50 years been investigating thousands of cases of sick and dying wild animals involving at least 200 different species. These experiences have led to a broad base of expertise and have revealed those recurring disease problems that are important in each wildlife species. Available through association with The University of Georgia is a full spectrum of diagnostic laboratory facilities. Specialized diagnostic tests are also provided through the support of cooperating federal laboratories and a network of collaborating scientists.
Mission of SCWDS
The objectives of SCWDS have always been to:
- detect causes of sickness and death in wildlife
- define the impact of diseases and parasites upon wild animal populations
- delineate disease interrelationships between wildlife and domestic livestock
- determine the role of wildlife in transmission of human diseases
Website Resource Highlights
SCWDS Briefs Newsletter
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You can receive an advance notice for the on-line version by sending an email to either Gary Doster (gdoster@uga.edu) or Michael Yabsley (myabsley@uga.edu).
Wildlife Distribution Maps
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To learn more about SCWDS and their contributions to wildlife disease management, please visit their website at http://www.uga.edu/scwds/