Our Wild HealthIn cooperation with:

The Emma Barnsley FoundationJohn Deere

The PEER Program at Texas A&M College of Veterinary

Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

peer.tamu.edu

Your Instructor today:Dr. Alice Blue-McLendon

• Veterinarian at Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine

• Director of the Winnie Carter Wildlife Center

• I teach undergraduate and veterinary students

• One of the BEST parts of my job:Study Abroad trip to South Africa each summer for veterinary students

Want to know my favorite animal?

Wildlife• Non-domesticated animals that are native to a

country• Live in an area naturally without being

introduced by humans• The MOST interesting

of animals!

White-tailed Deer in Texas• Huge populations!• Hunting• Breeding for improved genetics

Exotic• Non-domestic species that are NOT native to

that country• A species living outside its native range, which

has arrived there by human activity

Examples of Wildlife vs Exotic Animals

1. Elephants2. White-tailed deer3. House sparrow4. Others

Human BenefitEnvironmental Health

Seed Dispersal/Pollination Recreation

Research

Nutrient cycling

Human-Wildlife Conflict• The interaction between wild animals and people

and the resultant negative impact on people or their resources, or wild animals or their habitat.

Conflict Continued

Crop/property damage Habitat destruction

Injury/deathHealth hazards

Disease Transmission• Concern for the transfer of diseases from

wildlife to domestic animals• Diseases that humans can get from wildlife

(zoonotic diseases)

Wildlife as Pets• Require specialized care• Aggressive and unpredictable • Captivity is stressful • Zoonotic diseases

Keeping a wild animal in captivity does NOT make it a pet!

Wildlife and ResearchPrevent/treat zoonotic

diseases

Understanding natural biology

Social behavior

Threats to Wildlife Health• Human mistakes, such as oil spills• Diseases• Overpopulation of the animals• Habitat destruction• Others

Wildlife Conservation• The science of analyzing and protecting the

Earth’s biological diversity– Education, preservation of habitat and management

of wildlife

Worldwide Concerns for Animal Populations

• Examples: Black and White Rhinos in Africa

Wildlife Preservation• The strict setting aside of natural resources to

prevent damage caused by contact with humans or by human activities

Do No Harm

Leave it alone

Preserve/provide habitat

Contact an expert

Education

You CAN make a difference!• Mahatma Ghandi said: “you must be the change

you wish to see in the world”.• Conserve resources: use less energy, recycle,

repurpose• Protect wildlife habitats• CARE about the creatures that share this lovely

planet with you!

Winnie Carter Wildlife Center• A teaching and research facility for introducing

students to the management, handling, behavior and veterinary care of exotic and wildlife species

• Please “like” our Facebook page

Questions?