Wildlife Pathology Unit
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Wildlife Resources Center
108 Game Farm Road
Delmar, New York 12054
518-478-3032
The Wildlife Pathology Unit (WPU), located at the Wildlife Resources Center, just south of Albany, NY, is responsible for diagnosing, monitoring, and (when needed) controlling causes of sickness and death in New York State's amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The WPU also provides forensic wildlife pathology services to DEC's law enforcement division and other agencies, and performs field investigations related to the impact of environmental contamination ( oil spills, industrial discharges, pesticide use and misuse, refuse and medical incinerators, hazardous waste sites and landfills) on wildlife. In addition, research activities by the WPU have historically made many significant contributions to the sciences of wildlife pathology, physiology and toxicology.
The WPU is headed by Ward B. Stone, Wildlife Pathologist. The remainder of the permanent staff consists of a biologist, a fish and wildlife technician, and a secretary. The WPU is typically assisted by 3-5 seasonal technicians or lab workers, and by one or more volunteers or interns.
The NYDEC's Wildlife Pathology Unit, or its functional equivalent, was established in the late 1930's, adjacent to a state-operated game farm just outside of Delmar, a suburban community on the south side of Albany, NY. Today the WPU still resides at its original location, although the game farm property is now the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. The WPU currently occupies a two story building ( the Wildlife Resources Center) which includes a necropsy room, a walk-in cooler and freezer, and a small laboratory with an array of microscopes and histotechnology equipment. The WPU operates a modern crematory in a separate dedicated building. Other outbuildings, enclosures and cages are also used by the WPU staff for animal holding and storage. Plans to expand and modify this facility to accommodate the WPU's growing workload are underway.
Since the late 1930's, the WPU has done pioneering research in the field. Early work focused on the nutritional requirements of the white-tailed deer and documented the impact that cold, snowy winters could have on their populations. The WPU of the 1940's and 1950's was noted for its work on waterfowl parasites, ingested lead shotgun pellets as an important cause of waterfowl mortality, botulism-caused mortality of waterfowl and pheasants, and the parasites of white-tailed deer. In the 1960's, research was conducted on rabies in foxes and skunks, including the potential for using reproductive inhibitors to control fox and skunk populations.
In the 1970's, the WPU improved the cementum annuli method of determining the ages of foxes, raccoons, bear and deer, and also studied furbearer diseases extensively. During this time and into the 1980's , the WPU diagnosed numerous bird mortalities caused by chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides, such as DDT, dieldrin, endrin, and chlordane. The unit also showed that organophosphate pesticides such as diazinon, oftanol, and dursban were important causes of bird mortality, especially on turfgrass. The Wildlife Pathologist was the principal expert for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a historic hearing (1987) that resulted in a national ban on the use of diazinon on golf courses and sod farms. The Unit also documented and published papers on the presence of pollutant such as PCB's , DDT, dieldrin, and chlordane in the tissues of waterfowl and snapping turtles that are consumed by people. The NYS Department of Health has used this information to issue their annual health advisories for consuming sport fish and game.
The WPU's increasing involvement in the study of contaminant issues affecting both wildlife and humans continued in the late 1980's with investigations into PCB contamination problems in the St. Lawrence River in the vicinity of Akwesasne, the Mohawk Indian Reservation east of Massena, NY. Working cooperatively with the Mohawk Nation, the WPU discovered and quantified PCB sources at nearby industrial plants owned by the General Motors and Reynolds Metals companies, substantially affecting the scope of remedial actions. Other pollution related investigations at this time and into the 1990's included work at a number of municipal landfills, construction debris disposal sites, and refuse incinerator, mostly in Hudson Valley locations.
The 1990's were marked by a spread of raccoon-strain rabies into New York, a sizeable oil spill in the Hudson River estuary, an outbreak of duck viral enteritis (duck plague) in the Finger Lakes, sizable kills of waterfowl from aspergillposis (a fungal disease) and infection with Sphaeridiotrema globulus (a trematode parasite), decimation of house finches with siskins and redpolls, continuation of organochlorine poisonings, substantial kills of Canada geese related to ingestion of lead pellets at shooting ranges, and a great increase in the secondary poisoning of raptors with anticoagulant rodenticides (particularly by products containing brodifacoum). This decade closed with the WPU playing a pivotal role in recognizing and deciphering out break in an and around New York City in 1999.
The new century has dawned with the WPU as a cornerstone of New York's surveillance for West Nile Virus in wild birds. The WPU is also at the forefront of the investigation of avian mortality linked to the emergence of the type E botulism in the Lake Erie ecosystem. In the near future we should see new activities in the field of emerging an exotic disease threats, enhance capabilities of wildlife forensic investigations, and our continued focus on a variety of toxic threats to wildlife. Involvement in wildlife vaccination and contraception issues are also likely.
Submitting Specimens to the WPU
Any wildlife found dead ( other than routine road or window kills of common species ) or debilitated may be of interest to the WPU . Although specimens which need testing for rabies should generally be directed toward your local County Health Department, other specimens maybe submitted directly to the WPU (see next section) or via DEC's Regional Wildlife Offices. Care must be taken when handling and transporting wildlife specimens, and thorough documentation should accompany all specimens.
Direct Submissions of Animals to the WPU
The WPU is located outside of Delmar, a suburban community just south of Albany, New York (see directions). After appropriately packaging the specimen(s) for transport, direct delivery can be made to our lab between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM weekdays. Call 518/478-3032 if delivery must be made at other times or on weekends, or if you have any questions. A specially marked deposit barrel located just outside our specimen delivery entrance can also be used at these times.
Specimens may also be shipped via overnight express services. Specimens must be adequately packaged before placement in the shipping container. To keep the specimens cold or frozen , use an insulated container (plastic or styrofoam coolers are recommended), and some artificial ice. (Do not use Wet or Dry Ice). Alert us to the shipment so that the package can be traced promptly if necessary, Send to: Ward Stone, NYSDEC-Wildlife Pathology Unit, 108 Game Farm Road, Delmar, NY 12054 (518/478-3032). Be sure to include adequate documentation.
Directions to the WPU
Driving directions to the NYSDEC Wildlife Pathology Laboratory.From the west or north via NYS Thruway (Exit 24) or Northway (Exit I-90 East):
Odometer Reading
0.0 Tollbooth, Exit 24 (Thruway), Exit I-90 East (Route 87)
2.0 Exit 4(I-90) to Route 85/Slingerlands
6.5 Right at light at "T" onto New Scotland Avenue
7.0 Left at next light onto Route 140
7.9 Continue through light on Cherry Avenue
8.0 First right onto Orchard Street
10.0 Right onto Game Farm Road (NYSDEC - Sign)
10.6 Wildlife Resources Center/Wildlife Pathology Laboratory
From the West via Route 20:
Odometer Reading
0.0 Right (south) onto Route 155 in Guilderland
4.0 Route 155 ends, bear left onto route 85A
5.6 85A ends, turn right at light onto route 85
5.9 Left onto New Scotland South Road
7.6 Left onto Game Farm Road (just south of power substation)
8.1 Wildlife Resources Center/Wildlife Pathology Unit
From the North via Route 787:
Follow 787 to end and turn right onto 9W. Proceed 1/4 mile to Thruway entrance, set odometer to 0.0 and proceed as for directions from Exit 23 (below).
From the south via NYS Thruway Exit 23:
Odometer Reading
0.0 Toll booth Exit 23, right onto Route 9W/32 south
1.2 Right onto Route 32 South/Delmar (divided highway)
4.4 Continue through light onto Bypass Extension
5.1 Right at "T" (Vadney Drive)
5.6 Left at light onto Delaware Avenue (at High School)
6.7 Right onto Orchard Street (NYSDEC sign)
7.1 Left onto Game Farm Road (NYSDEC sign)
7.7 Wildlife Resources Center/Wildlife Pathology Laboratory
Handling and Packaging Animals for Transport or Shipment
Dead wildlife can be a health threat to people and other animals. If professional assistance is unavailable or delayed, these instructions should be followed. First, be sure the animal is dead before you touch it or get too close. In some situations, it may be necessary to euthanize the animal. Next, insert your gloved hands inside an adequately-sized heavy duty trash bag (the thicker the better) and envelop the carcass with the bag. Avoid any direct contact. Be careful of teeth, claws, bone splinters or porcupine quills. Afterwards, securely close the bag and place it inside one or more additional bags. Properly discard (enclose with specimen) or disinfect gloves or clothing which were in contact with the animal. Prior to transport, keep the specimen in a cool spot, away from pets and children. Contact us directly at 518/478-3032 if substantial delays are expected, or if you have additional questions.
Submitting Specimens-Documentation Requirements
It is important that documentation accompany all submissions. Print and use the submission form or provide the information requested on that form on your own paper. Completing the form is also recommended even if you have obtained assistance from DEC personnel (who will be asking you the same information).
Disinfection Procedures
Skin:
Wash skin thoroughly with hot water and soap. Consult your physician if you have sustained an injury (a bite, scratch or puncture).
Tools, Instruments, Hard Surfaces:
Immerse or flood items with a 10% chlorine bleach solution (1 part household bleach, 9 parts water). Let stand for 10 minutes. Scrub and rinse thoroughly.
Clothing:
Pre-soak clothing in a 5% chlorine bleach solutions (1 part bleach, 19 parts water) for 10 minutes and then wash with hot water and laundry detergent. To avoid damage to colors or fabrics, other household disinfectant products may be used, although many of these are less effective than chlorine bleach.
Note: Many pathogens are inactivated by heat, drying, and sunlight.
Submissions of Animals via DEC's Regional Offices
Wildlife staff at DEC's Regional Wildlife Offices may be able to assist with investigations of wildlife morbidity and mortality. Seek their assistance as a first step in dealing with animals found dead or debilitated. Outside of normal work hours, local Environmental Conservation Officers may be able to help. In some locations, local animal control officers (usually contacted through local police departments) may be another option. If the latter are able to move the animal(s), request that it be delivered to the regional DEC office for shipment to the WPU. If no local assistance can be found, contact the WPU at 518/478-3032, or consider transporting or shipping to the WPU directly .
Wildlife Pathology Unit Forensic Services
The Wildlife Pathology Unit offers the following services to wildlife law enforcement officers:
- Determination of Cause of Death
- Estimation of Time of Death
- Species Identity
- Expert Testimony
Recommendations for Environmental Conservation Officers:
Time of death temperature data is best obtained upon discovery, as estimates necessarily become less precise as time elapses and ambient conditions change. Head temperatures are of greatest value during the first few hours post-mortem. Deep high temperatures are required thereafter.
Physical alteration of wounds during the initial field inspections may hinder subsequent evaluation by the WPU.
Educational Services
The WPU has created an extensive skull bone collection for animals examined at necropsy. This collection is an invaluable reference tool for identifying unknown bones. It is also a valuable educational tool, as real bones convey structure, function and taxonomic features in a far more vivid memorable way than photos or drawings. Schools and other educational institutions are welcome to borrow parts of this collection for classes or events. The WPU, cognizant of the value and popularity of these bones, also cleans and prepares skulls for permanent loan. If you are interested in a set of bone/skulls for your school or group,please write to Ward B. Stone describing your need for the items, and attach a detailed list of the bones/skulls you would like to acquire. The list will be filled as/if the items become available. You may also contact the WPU directly at 518/478-3032 for more information.
