© 2024 WXPR
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

DNR Wildlife Health Program Focus of November Science on Tap

Science on Tap-Minocqua

The Wildlife Health Program studies and manages disease and other health issues that impact wildlife in Wisconsin.

Tami Ryan is the Chief of the Wildlife Health Program within the Wisconsin DNR.

The program has spent years studying chronic wasting disease in deer and white-nose syndrome in bats.

More recently it’s looked to the potential impact of PFAS and even COVID-19 on wildlife.

“The health of wildlife is a really important thing. Wildlife are a trusted resource for the state of Wisconsin. They hold great value for people who enjoy observing them or hunting them or just knowing that they’re on the landscape,” said Ryan.

The Wildlife Health Program covers a wide range.

Sometimes it’s reactive, investigating mortality events in a species and what’s causing it and how to prevent it from happening again.

Sometimes it’s proactive like looking at the exposure of West Nile Virus on Ruffed Grouse.

“Having healthy wildlife is and having our thumb on the pulse of health of wildlife is a really important thing. It can be an indicator of what’s happening in the environment,” said Ryan. “It can also be kind of a warning sign to human health concerns. It’s just a really interesting, intriguing, and rewarding profession.”

Ryan will be the featured speaker for November’s Science on Tap Minocqua.

You’ll be able to learn more about the Wildlife Health Program and it’s impact on Wisconsin wildlife.

It’s Wednesday, November 4. It’s being held via Zoom starting at 6:30 p.m.

You can visit the Science on Tap Minocqua website to join in.

Katie Thoresen is WXPR's News Director/Vice President.
Up North Updates
* indicates required
Related Content