National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC)

Field Station Leader: Dr. Tyler A. Campbell,
(tyler.a.campbell@aphis.usda.gov)
Research Wildlife Biologist

USDA/APHIS/WS/NWRC
Texas Field Station
Texas A & M University—Kingsville
700 University Blvd. MSC218
Kingsville, TX 78363
(361) 593-2426

The development of feral hog management strategies was identified as a priority in the 2001 NWRC Research Needs Assessment, and is the focus of a recent Wildlife Services wildlife disease business plan. In 2004, the NWRC received congressionally-appropriated funding for the specific purpose of establishing a field station at Texas A&M University—Kingsville (TAMUK), an institution that is dedicated to serving an ethnically and culturally diverse population. The congressional directive indicated that the primary focus of field station activities would be the development of methods to manage and ultimately eradicate pseudorabies (found in feral hogs) and other wildlife diseases affecting livestock.

The field station is part of a collaborative effort between the TAMUK College of Agriculture and Human Sciences (through the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute) and NWRC. The College provides office and laboratory space and access to animal holding facilities on the university campus. TAMUK is an ideal location because of the wildlife management focus of Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute scientists. Of the 17 scientists within the Institute, 15 possess PhDs which is remarkable given the comparatively small size of the University. Additionally, wildlife management students may have opportunities for conducting research supervised by field station personnel in cooperation with TAMUK faculty.

The Kingsville, TX, field station is the first NWRC field station in the southwestern United States, and the first focused on wildlife disease issues. Station personnel will bring critical expertise in wildlife damage management to the southwest border region of the United States. This region has become increasingly important due to the current and potential diseases in the area that can create future problems for animal-based industries. The field station will have an important role in development of wildlife-disease monitoring techniques and management strategies for wildlife that carry diseases such as pseudorabies. Results from pseudorabies research will benefit wildlife stakeholders and livestock producers and assist APHIS/Veterinary Services in its efforts to eradicate this economically important disease.

Development of Surveillance Strategies and Management Tools to Control Pseudorabies and Other Wildlife Diseases that Affect Humans and Livestock*

* short title of the official "Research Project" that describes the primary focus of research performed at this NWRC field station. The Project Web pages, in turn, describe goals, objectives and accomplishments of the research. All Project Web pages are also listed under their respective Research Program.