In this video, DEC Wildlife Biologist Kevin Hynes describes how to safely ship dead wildlife or wildlife samples to the Wildlife Health Program for testing.
Handling and Shipping Wildlife Specimens
Duration: 15:37
Our surveillance program often uses commercial shipping companies to carry samples to our laboratories for testing. When they aren't packed correctly, biological samples like carcasses, animal parts or swabs can leak or contaminate the container, exposing anyone who handles it to potential diseases. Shipping companies have strict rules regarding packing and labelling of these kinds of samples, and there may be fines or denial of service if shipments are not handled properly. In this video, biologist Kevin Hynes explains the key points in shipping these samples safely for testing.