Research | Cornell Wildlife Health Lab

Our research is broadly collaborative and driven by real world issues. At any given time we may have more than a dozen active projects combining field and laboratory work with colleagues from around the country in a variety of disciplines.

Active Projects

young buck with mouth open against green tree background

RT-QuIC Project

To improve testing capabilities for CWD, we are building capacity for a new test for prions, Real-Time Quaking Induced Conversion (RT-QuIC)...

Wood frog eyes, nose, face, and head macro portrait

Ranavirus Environmental RNA (eRNA)

Exploring the potential of environmental RNA (eRNA) for ranavirus surveillance...

Fisher and Bobcat Population Health

Assessing how lead toxicity and anticoagulant rodenticides impact female reproductive potential and population health of fishers and bobcats in New York.

Landscape Drivers of Rodenticide Exposure in Northeast Fishers

Digging into the frequency and impact of rodenticides on fishers.

Detecting Tiger Salamanders using eDNA

Developing molecular tools that allow us to use eDNA as a surveillance tool to find at-risk species.

Investigating Parvovirus

Investigating canine parvovirus in rehabilitated raccoons using responses from rehabilitators in NYS

Raptors and Rodenticide Biomarkers

Working to develop a biomarker to detect the clinically toxic effects of anticoagulant rodenticides in living birds.

Moose Population Health

Assessing moose population health in New York State with sampling and diagnostic testing to understand reproductive status, infectious disease exposure, parasite load, and causes of death.

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), buck

SARS-CoV-2 & White-tailed Deer

Investigating the extent of infection in deer in New York and examining the relationship between environmental variables to ascertain how deer may be exposed and spread the virus to other deer.

Using Mathematical Models To Study Furbearer Populations

Using harvest data in mathematical models to help managers balance trapping activity with species sustainability.

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease

Conducting surveillance for EHD virus in New York and surrounding states, with the goal of characterizing the prevalence of the virus, the degree of developing immunity among white-tailed deer, and the spatiotemporal dynamics of serotype distribution.

Porcupine Health and Adenoviruses

Looking into the emerging infections of adenovirus in North American porcupines

Fisher Reproductive Health

Investigating impacts on fisher health in New York State.

Surveillance Optimization Project for Chronic Wasting Disease (SOP4CWD)

Our Surveillance Optimization Project for Chronic Wasting Disease (SOP4CWD) collaboration has developed the CWD Data Warehouse, an online platform for CWD surveillance planning and data management available at no cost to wildlife agencies across North America.

Bald Eagles Population Impact Study 2018-2021

Uncovering the history of lead toxicity and the population level impact on bald eagles...

Fishers and Rodenticide

Digging into the frequency and impact of rodenticides on fishers...

Completed Projects

Lead Ammunition Camera Survey

Identifying wildlife scavengers of white-tailed deer in New York to catalog scavenger species and assess their risk of lead exposure through ammunition fragments in deer remains.