Welcome to the USGS Wildlife: Terrestrial and Endangered Resources Program
USGS scientists supported by the Wildlife: Terrestrial and Endangered Resources Program (Wildlife Program) conduct research on diverse natural resource topics involving migratory wildlife, marine mammals, threatened and endangered species, wildlife disease, terrestrial plants, and amphibians.
These activities focus primarily on the information needs of Department of the Interior partners, although we also collaborate with State governments, tribes, and nongovernmental organizations. The Wildlife Program supports the development of new information and tools for the management of wildlife on Federally managed lands such as National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and Bureau of Land Management areas.
Viral Tracking of Wildlife Corridors across the Rocky Mountains
Researchers at the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK) and their collaborators at Penn State University are using viral genetics to estimate contact patterns of mule deer and elk across several states in the Rocky Mountain region. By linking their sampling efforts with chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveys in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Colorado they are looking at wildlife connectivity at an unprecedented scale. Download the fact sheet (PDF, 374 KB)
(Photo: Elk in Yellowstone National Park. Photo courtesy of Kim Keating, USGS)
In the Spotlight
Genetic Evidence and Genomic Diversity of Avian Influenza in a Migratory Flyway
Two recent publications on the genetics of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses in North America, which use the migratory Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) as a case study, shed light on the virus's intercontinental movement and genomic diversity.
Koehler, A. V., J. M. Pearce, P. L. Flint, J. C. Franson, and H. Ip. 2008. Genetic evidence of intercontinental movement of avian influenza in a migratory bird: the northern pintail (Anas acuta). Molecular Ecology 17:4754–4762.
Pearce, J. M., A. M. Ramey, P. L. Flint, A. V. Koehler, J. P. Fleskes, J. C. Franson, J. S. Hall, D. V. Derksen, and H. S. Ip. 2009. Avian influenza at both ends of a migratory flyway: characterizing viral genomic diversity to optimize surveillance plans for North America. Evolutionary Applications 2: In Press.
The Wildlife Disease Information Nodeof the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) provides access to a variety of data on wildlife diseases, mortality
events, and other critical information contributed by partners from Federal and State agencies, as well as national, international, academic, research, and nongovernmental organizations.
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
Viral Tracking of Wildlife Corridors across the Rocky Mountains
Researchers at the USGS 
Genetic Evidence and Genomic Diversity of Avian Influenza in a Migratory Flyway 
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