Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

Strategies to assess and reduce risk associated with disease agents in wild animals must be based upon thorough knowledge of the epidemiology of the disease agent, specific local information, and other factors. Risk evaluation and management efforts will involve organizations with differing expertise and cooperation will be essential between wildlife management, public health, and domestic animal health agencies. Risk reduction strategies may be based upon manipulation of the disease agent, the host, the environment, and/or human activities. Management of human activity, particularly the promotion of biosecurity, may be the most efficient strategy because other measures are more difficult and expensive. The science of risk assessment and disease management in wildlife is growing and evolving as new situations arise and as new methods are developed to meet the needs of wildlife resource, animal agriculture, and public health interest groups.