Wildlife disease surveillance programs sample animals at human-wildlife interfaces to detect spillover risk, creating welfare considerations.
The welfare cost of zoonotic disease surveillance is justified by the public health benefit of early detection, but should be minimized through non-invasive methods where possible and careful welfare protocols where animal contact is necessary. Non-invasive methods including environmental DNA, fecal sampling, and remote camera monitoring have advanced significantly and can replace invasive sampling for many surveillance purposes. When invasive sampling is necessary, welfare training, chemical immobilization protocols, and exclusion criteria for vulnerable animals minimize harm.