AP23WSNWRC00C039

Purpose: This project will maintain the established SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in North American cervid populations started by APHIS WS. The project aims to continue vital research to better understand how the SARS-CoV-2 virus behaves in various animals, how it moves between humans and animals, and what can be done to interrupt the chains of transmission.

Activities to be performed:
1) Coordinate sample collection and shipping to APHIS.
2) Conduct outreach to WAFWA member states.
3) Conduct outreach to all Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) and subgroup member states.
4) Procure, distribute, and coordinate sampling supplies to participants.
5) Collaborate on any manuscripts resulting from this collaboration and retain authorship(s) on all published manuscripts.
6) Review all reports resulting from the collaboration within 30 days of receipt. All diagnostic results will be sent to APHIS, and these results will be shared with participating agencies when available.

This is a population-level SARS-CoV-2 surveillance effort targeting white-tailed deer, mule deer, and other cervids. Results from statewide sampling will be provided to the cooperating state wildlife management agency as the data becomes available. WS encourages the cooperator to work jointly with APHIS legislative and public affairs to publish or otherwise make publicly available the results of the work performed under this agreement. Test results for individual deer will not be made public. Positive results will be shared with the state wildlife agencies prior to sharing with other stakeholders and the public.

Expected outcomes: The cooperator will work together with the APHIS program manager to coordinate the collection of SARS-CoV-2 samples from North American cervid species by partnering with state fish and wildlife agencies. To date, the first year of white-tailed deer surveillance has resulted in three APHIS-led manuscripts currently in the peer-review process, and APHIS is a co-author on an additional manuscript currently under review. At least one peer-reviewed publication is likely to be produced from this work. Principal authorship will be retained by the cooperator, and co-authorship will be offered to the associated APHIS collaborators. The cooperator will coordinate with APHIS to ensure that the target numbers of samples from hunter-harvest white-tailed deer, mule deer, and other cervids are collected to meet the objectives of the project.

Intended beneficiaries: All funds will be used to further investigate SARS-CoV-2 in wild North American cervid species. This partnership with WAFWA for continued surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in cervids will benefit wildlife managers and researchers, the health of wildlife populations, and potentially human health and safety across the United States.

Subrecipient activities: The recipient intends to subaward funds to WAFWA member states fish and wildlife agencies, as well as members of the other AFWA subgroups (MAFWA, SEAFWA, NEAFWA). WAFWA will subaward funds to participants to collect SARS-CoV-2 samples from white-tailed deer, mule deer, and other cervids from hunter-harvested animals and animals handled via other management actions.

Western Association Of Fish And Wildlife Agencies

N/A

10.028 - Wildlife Services

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) [USDA]

Multi-State United States

Multi-State

USDA-APHIS-10028-WSNWRC00-23-0037

COVID-19 $3,300,000 (100%) percent of this Cooperative Agreement was funded by COVID-19 emergency acts including the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 09/30/25 to 09/30/26.