One of the major priorities of the NYS Wildlife Health Program is to conduct surveillance for diseases that can impact wildlife, domestic animals and people. Since wildlife can carry zoonoses (diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans), it's important that wildlife professionals know how to operate safely – particularly when handling sick or dead wildlife. Safe handling techniques can also protect animals by reducing the chances that personnel will accidentally move wildlife diseases around.
In this series of videos and presentations, you will learn about common zoonoses, the appropriate use of personal protective equipment, submitting cases, and responding to a wildlife disease outbreak in the field. The module is divided into two segments:
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Introduction to the Wildlife Health Program and wildlife disease
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Personal safety, and handling wildlife specimens
Completion of the module provides new NYSDEC employees with the equivalent of our half day workshop training.
