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Krysten Schuler

Krysten Schuler

I am a wildlife disease ecologist interested in the health of wildlife populations and associations with human and domestic animal activities and diseases. Most broadly, I focus on conserving free-ranging species for current and future generations use and enjoyment. This involves a multi-disciplinary approach involving risk analysis, field studies, human dimensions, and laboratory experiments.

Since 2011, I have worked with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on the cooperative New York State Wildlife Health Program. Prior to relocating to New York, I served as a field epidemiologist with the U.S. Geological Survey – National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin investigating wildlife mortality events and training biologists in wildlife health around the country.

My current projects are quite diverse in scope and species. I head up the New York State Interagency Working Group on chronic wasting disease, which has produced surveillance, response and prevention plans in recent years to ensure that all measures are taken to avoid reintroduction of the disease to New York, be able to detect disease at the earliest possible instance, and be ready to react once the disease is found in wild or captive cervids. I have projects looking at moose health in the Adirondacks region, geographical epidemiology of bear mange, white-tailed deer fawn survival, historical accounts of lead in bald eagles, and chytrid fungus in eastern hellbenders.

I also have some collaborations with agencies and universities outside of New York and am willing to consult on interesting projects including diagnostic testing, test development, statistical analysis, and field studies. Some of the themes I’m interested in are exploring the public trust responsibilities of agencies in addressing wildlife health as part of their mandate to protect both present and future resources.

I enjoy educating students, wildlife professionals, and the public about wildlife health and understanding the contributing factors to disease outbreaks. 

In general, I think wildlife health needs to move from an attitude of helplessness or apathy to a precautionary principle (prevent introduction of new pathogens that may represent a risk for wildlife without delaying action until scientific consensus is available) that involves all affected parties and examines a suite of options for risk mitigation.

Select Publications

2019

How can we augment the few that remain? Using stable population dynamics to aid reintroduction planning. . Brenda Hanley, Elizabeth Bunting, Krysten Schuler . PeerJ
A novel orthoreovirus associated with epizootic necrotizing enteritis and splenic necrosis in American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos . Maria J. Forzan, Randall W. Renshaw, Elizabeth M. Bunting, Elizabeth Buckles, Joseph Okoniewski, Kevin Hynes, Richalice Melendez, Ashley Ableman, Melissa Laverack, Melissa Fadden, Akbar Dastjerdi, Krysten Schuler, Edward J. Dubovi . Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Infection of eight mesocarnivores in New Hampshire and Vermont with a distinct clade of canine distemper virus in 2016–2017 . David B. Needle, Vivien C. Burnell, Maria J. Forzan, Edward J. Dubovi, Krysten L. Schuler, Chris Bernier, Nicholas A. Hollingshead, Julie C. Ellis, Brian A. Stevens, Patrick Tate, Eman Anis, Rebecca P. Wilkes . Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
Presence of leptospirosis in urban/suburban American black bears in western North Carolina. . Sasmal, I., N. P. Gould,, Krysten Schuler, Y. F. Chang, A. Thachil, J. Strules, , C. Olfenbuttle, S. Datta, and C. S. DePerno . The Journal of Wildlife Diseases

2018

Hunters’ responses to urine‐based scent bans tackling chronic wasting disease . Hwanseok Song, Katherine A. McComas, Krysten L. Schuler . Journal of Wildlife Management
Source effects on psychological reactance to regulatory policies: the role of trust and similarity . Hwanseok Song, Katherine A. McComas, Krysten L. Schuler . Science Communication

2021

Getting Results in the Fight Against CWD . Krysten Schuler, Rachel Abbott, Johnathan Mawdsley, Kaitlyn McGarvey . The Wildlife Professional
Diagnostic evaluation of unknown white-tailed deer morbidity and mortality in New York State: 2011–2017 . Sophie Zhu, Elizabeth Buckles, Elizabeth Bunting, Kevin Hynes, Krysten Schuler . Wildlife Biology
Species, causes, and outcomes of wildlife rehabilitation in New York State . Melissa Hanson, Nicholas Hollingshead, Krysten Schuler, William F. Siemer, Patrick Martin, Elizabeth M. Bunting . PLOS ONE
SENTINEL COYOTE PATHOGEN SURVEY TO ASSESS DECLINING BLACK-FOOTED FERRET (MUSTELA NIGRIPES) POPULATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA, USA . Krysten Schuler, Michael Claymore, Hannah Schnitzler, Edward Dubovi, Tonie Rocke, Michael J Perry, Dwight Bowman, Rachel C Abbott . Journal of Wildlife Diseases

2020

Predictors of intentions to conserve bats among New York property owners . William F. Siemer, T. Bruce Lauber, Heidi E. Kretser, Krysten L. Schuler, Michelle Verant, Carl J. Herzog, Katherine A. McComas . Human Dimensions of Wildlife

For More Info

Faculty Page
Google Scholar Publications List

Contact Information

ks833@cornell.edu

Projects

Active Projects

White-tailed deer

Chronic Wasting Disease Risk Assessment and Prevention Planning

Reducing the risk of a serious threat to wild white tailed deer....

Fisher

Fishers and Rodenticide

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

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagles Population Impact Study 2018-2021

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

white-tialed buck

Surveillance Optimization Project for Chronic Wasting Disease (SOP4CWD)

We are currently engaged in a multi-state effort, Surveillance Optimization Project for Chronic Wasting Disease (SOP4CWD), to maximize sampling efficiency and improve its effectiveness to benefit state agencies.

moose in field

Moose Population Health

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

fisher kit in a tree

Fisher Reproductive Health

Investigating impacts on fisher health in New York State.

Completed Projects

Eastern Hellbender

Eastern Hellbender Conservation

Improving survival odds of North America's only giant salamander species - the Eastern Hellbender

American Black Bear

Emergence of Black Bear Mange in New York

Understanding the transmission of a newly emerging disease of black bears...

Moose in marsh area

Moose Population Health 2017

Battling moose population decline in New York using data

deer fawns

White-tailed Deer Fawn Survival

Working with partners to assess health and survival in newborn fawns...

moose bull

Moose Health 2018

We are wrapping up an intensive look at moose health in New York...

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