Much of the interest in disease ecology and wildlife health has been prompted by the emergence, or resurgence, of many parasites that move between livestock, wildlife, and/or humans. Wildlife and their parasites do not recognize political or jurisdictional boundaries and, as a result, can affect the natural ecosystems of national parks and human health in nearby
communities.
Wildlife diseases are important because of their impact on both the natural ecosystem and human health. Wildlife, domestic animals and humans share a large and increasing number of infectious diseases. The continued globalization of society, human population growth, and associated landscape changes, will multiply opportunities for contact between wildlife, domestic animals,
and humans, facilitating emerging infectious diseases (EID).
In response, Yellowstone National Park signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Montana State University and the University of California–Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Wildlife Health Center to establish the Yellowstone Wildlife Health Program. This program combines expertise from several disciplines to address existing and potential diseases in the park.
As Yellowstone National Park is home to one of the most intact remaining wildlife ecosystems, it is fitting that the park should serve as a proving ground for the state-of-the-art research that will be necessary to conserve these wildlife resources for future generations. This report highlights the Yellowstone Wildlife Health Program projects and initiatives undertaken in 2008.