Foot and Mouth Disease

While foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD) is primarily an economically devastating disease of domestic livestock, experimental studies have clearly demonstrated that it also threatens wildlife. North American wildlife including white-tailed deer, other deer species, feral pigs, bison, moose, antelope, peccaries, musk ox, caribou, sheep and elk are susceptible to FMD. USGS scientists are concerned about this potential threats.

Wildlife Disease Specialists at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center are interacting with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and working with US Department of Interior land management and conservation agencies to provide information on disease status and risks and assist in developing FMD prevention and contingency plans.

For more information on Foot-and-Mouth Disease, you can contact: Dr. Scott Wright, USGS, National Wildlife Health Center at 608-270-2460 or Paul Slota, USGS, National Wildlife Health Center at 608-270-2420.