Wildlife disease surveillance at the human-animal interface protects both human health and the welfare of wildlife populations affected by emerging pathogens.
Wildlife disease surveillance involves capturing, sampling, and releasing wild animals — procedures that cause acute stress and can cause injury if not done carefully. The welfare of sampled animals is a consideration in surveillance program design, with protocols that minimize handling time, use chemical immobilization appropriately, and exclude pregnant or juvenile animals from risky procedures. The welfare benefit of early disease detection — preventing population-level die-offs — generally justifies the welfare cost of individual sampling.