The majority of human infectious diseases originate through zoonotic transmission, making zoonotic diseases some of the most devastating and deadly human events on earth. A zoonotic disease is the transmission of a virus or pathogen from an animal or insect to a human. This transmission is heavily influenced by nature and human-animal interactions. As travel, trade and changes to habitats increase, the human-animal interface increases, putting us at an increased threat for another pandemic. Many pathogens can pass from animal to human; Lyme disease, HIV, H1N1 for example. It is when the pathogen possesses the capacity for sustained transmission within the new (human) host, that we have a pandemic. My project as the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement fellow is to look for trends in wildlife traffic/trade across US borders and the potential for zoonotic disease transmission.

 Wildlife trade and trafficking in the United States brings millions of plants, animals and insects across our borders annually. The US Fish and Wildlife Employs Special Agents, Wildlife Inspectors and Conservation Law Enforcement Officers that work closely with state, local and tribal counterparts to conserve our wildlife resources both in the United States and globally. I will use the historical data to determine or identify trends in species of concern that could be used to predict and prevent the next possible pandemic. Alongside identifying trends, the data can be used to provide support and training necessary to support wildlife inspectors. I, with a multidisciplinary zoonotic team, will be looking at data from US border, airport and maritime port declarations for from the past 10+  years to deliver an upstream approach to interpreting/usage of historical data.

As we enter the final phase of a global pandemic, I think back to all the changes that I have personally made in the past 15 months. A move across country, pursuit of a master’s degree and now a fellowship. Last August I found the perfect graduate program through the University of Florida, MS in Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation. A few months ago, I found and applied for a fellowship with US Fish and wildlife Directorate Fellowship Program (DFP). Now entering week 3 as the fellow for the Office of Law Enforcement my project is coming together nicely and the irony of it all… I would not be here, the first fellow for the Office of Law Enforcement Headquarters Division, working on wildlife trafficking and zoonotic disease if we were not currently amid a global pandemic.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: USFS Headquarters, Washington Office