In a scattershot pattern that now extends from coast to coast, continental US states have been announcing new hotspots of chronic wasting disease (CWD). The contagious and always-fatal neurodegenerative disorder infects the cervid family that includes deer, elk, moose and, in higher latitudes, reindeer. There is no vaccine or treatment. Described by scientists as a […]
Tag: zoonotic diseases
Bobcats benefit both human and ecological health, but their growing populations are often misunderstood
The bobcat population has rebounded over the past 125 years, making it North America’s most common wildcat: as of 2011, there were an estimated 3.5 million bobcats in the United States alone, a significant increase from the late 1990s. These intelligent felids, Lynx rufus, have benefited from conservation efforts that have increased their natural habitat. […]
Bobcats are back, and they’re helping protect people from zoonotic disease
A bobcat, with its characteristic reddish fur and black markings, trots across a snow-covered field in central Oregon, in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, hunting birds at the Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery. It could almost be mistaken for a giant domestic cat, except for its massive legs, a shorter neck than any house feline, ears […]
4 Dominicans are accused of smuggling wildlife and throwing 113 birds overboard to their deaths
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico– Today a federal grand jury indicted four men from the Dominican Republic who attempted to smuggle hundreds of exotic birds into the Dominican Republic and were interdicted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard. According to court documents, on or about May 3, 2024, defendants Frankluis Carela […]
How Animal Welfare Advocacy Benefits Both Animals and Humans
Key Takeaways Animal welfare advocacy promotes better health outcomes for both humans and animals. Economic benefits of animal welfare are far-reaching, influencing food safety, job creation, and market stability. Strengthening societal bonds through a shared culture of compassion significantly reduces cases of animal cruelty and neglect. Environmental stewardship is closely linked to animal welfare, contributing […]