Addressing Disease Risks When Recovering Species at Risk

• Main Authors: Joseph K. Gaydos, Kirsten V. K. Gilardi
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Key Words; disease; translocation; species recovery; disease monitoring; Falco peregrinus; peregrine falcon; Wood Bison
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.631.5359; http://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/pubdocs/bcdocs/400484/gaydos_edited_final_feb_8.pdf

Abstract: Infectious and noninfectious diseases have had major impacts on free-ranging wildlife populations, and are especially important when recovering species at risk. For example, disease has hindered recovery of the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), wood bison (Bos bison athabascae), and southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis). Additionally, disease brought the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) to the brink of extinction in the 1970s, and caused the extinction of a Partula spp. terrestrial snail in the early 1990s. When a single disease can extirpate a remnant population, or when managers are forced to use tools such as translocation or captive breeding, which may increase the risk of disease impacts, managers must be proactive about disease risks. We suggest using a multi-tiered process when addressing disease concerns for species at risk: • When planning species recovery, consider disease as a factor that can impact the success of recovery efforts. • Evaluate potentially important infectious and noninfectious diseases. • Be cognizant about the risk of introducing diseases when translocating species or when