A snowstorm that closed highways led English literature student Kate Huyvaert to an unexpected path—becoming one of North America's leading experts on wild sheep disease. From discovering that 25% of albatross chicks aren't raised by their biological fathers to unraveling the devastating cycle of respiratory disease threatening bighorn sheep across the American West, Kate's journey spans fleas on prairie dogs, boobies with complete sexual agency, and the deadly mycoplasma bacteria creating chronic carriers in wild sheep populations.Kate introduces her innovative "kaleidoscope" approach to disease ecology, moving beyond simple models to embrace the beautiful complexity of host-pathogen interactions. This episode showcases how choosing your own adventure in science can lead to transformative wildlife health research, offering hope for cracking the code on chronic disease carriers while highlighting the interconnected world of domestic animals, wildlife, and human health.Linkshttps://vetmed.wsu.edu/our-team/wsu-profile/kate.huyvaert/https://www.wildsheepfoundation.org/about/praboardWe'd love to hear from you ... share your thoughts, feedback and ideas.
-------- Â
31:14
--------
31:14
#65 Nick and the Lord Howe Island stick insects (Australia)
Join host Dr. Cat Vendl as she meets Dr. Nick Doidge, zoo veterinarian and researcher, working to save the world's rarest insect – the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect, nicknamed the "tree lobster."Thought extinct for 80 years, these living fossils were dramatically rediscovered on a volcanic rock stack in the Pacific Ocean. But after bringing them back from just two individuals, a new threat emerged: deadly bacterial infections threatening the entire captive population.Discover how Nick has developed cutting-edge diagnostic tools to detect the pathogenic bacterial strains ahead of the insects' planned reintroduction to Lord Howe Island next year. This episode reveals the intricate science behind saving a species that survived impossible odds on a cliff face in the middle of the ocean.LinksNick's profile on the One Health Research Group at Melbourne UniWe'd love to hear from you ... share your thoughts, feedback and ideas.
-------- Â
28:16
--------
28:16
#64 Melting the Ice in People's Hearts: Indigenous Voices on Planetary Health (Canada)
In honor of International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on Aug 9, join host Dr. Cat Vendl for a special episode featuring two powerful Indigenous voices in health and healing. Meet Dr. Nicole Redvers, a member of the Deninu K'ue First Nation and Western Research Chair in Indigenous Planetary Health, who reveals how Indigenous healers have always treated humans and animals as interconnected beings. Then hear from Angaangaq, a traditional healer from Greenland whose spiritual mission is to "melt the ice in the heart of men."From Arctic seal hunting rituals that honor life to the simple power of saying "good morning," discover how Indigenous wisdom about balance, respect, and gratitude offers essential guidance for wildlife health professionals. A transformative conversation about breaking down silos, building bridges between knowledge systems, and remembering that healing begins with recognizing our interconnectedness with all life.LinksLearn more about Nicole's and Angaangaq's wisdom and work.We'd love to hear from you ... share your thoughts, feedback and ideas.
-------- Â
22:44
--------
22:44
#63 Nelson and the gorillas (Uganda)
Join host Dr. Cat Vendl as she ventures into Uganda's misty mountains to meet Dr. Nelson Bukamba, one of the world's few gorilla doctors providing life-saving veterinary care to our planet's most endangered relatives. Nelson's journey from a heartbroken 10-year-old making a promise to his dying dog Simba to treating wild mountain gorillas is nothing short of extraordinary.From 3 AM wake-up calls to tracking gorilla families across 321 square kilometers of impenetrable forest, Nelson reveals what it's really like to provide medical care to patients who don't exactly line up for treatment. Discover how these gentle giants weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and how Nelson's cutting-edge research on "cryptic" parasites is unraveling the invisible threads connecting gorilla health to human communities. With fewer than 1,063 mountain gorillas remaining in the wild, Nelson represents a new generation of conservation veterinarians using both field medicine and laboratory science to protect our closest living relatives – one gorilla at a time.Linkshttps://www.gorilladoctors.orghttps://www.facebook.com/gorilladoctorshttps://bsky.app/profile/gorilladoctors.bsky.socialhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/gorilla-doctors/We'd love to hear from you ... share your thoughts, feedback and ideas.
-------- Â
26:34
--------
26:34
#62 Sam and the swift fox (USA)
Join host Dr. Cat Vendl as she ventures into Wyoming's vast wilderness to meet Dr. Samantha Allen, the state's wildlife veterinarian who juggles budget spreadsheets and helicopter captures of bighorn sheep. From her unforgettable first WDA conference moment wielding a Stryker autopsy saw on a porpoise, Sam shares her journey from small-town kid told she'd only work with "cows and cats" to tackling Wyoming's diverse wildlife health challenges.Discover how chronic wasting disease has become endemic across Wyoming, why older male deer might be the main disease spreaders, and the surprising prevalence of rabbit hemorrhagic disease since 2020. But perhaps most intriguingly, meet the adorable swift fox—a resilient little species where 92% test positive for parvovirus exposure, raising fascinating questions about disease transmission between wild and domestic animals in America's wild west.Linkhttps://wgfd.wyo.gov/wyoming-wildlife/wildlife-disease-and-healthWe'd love to hear from you ... share your thoughts, feedback and ideas.
This is the podcast of the Wildlife Disease Association (WDA, https://www.wildlifedisease.org). Our host Dr Catharina Vendl chats with wildlife health professionals including researchers, vets, pathologists and more, about the joys and challenges of their job and the emerging issues of wildlife health locally and worldwide. All of our guests have a longstanding affinity with the WDA and a true passion for wildlife in common. So brush up your knowledge of current wildlife issues and One Health with Wildlife Health Talks.
New Zealand