Welcome to the Washington Chapter of The Wildlife Society Presentation Series!

About the presentation: Information on the state of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in cervids of Washington State. 

About the presenter: ​​Dr. Melia DeVivo is the Ungulate Research Scientist for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and for the last five years has worked on projects specific to eastern Washington deer and elk populations focused on predator-prey interactions. Prior to her appointment with WDFW, Dr. DeVivo received her doctorate in Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Wyoming where she studied the impacts of chronic wasting disease (CWD) on a free-ranging mule deer population in southeast Wyoming where CWD is endemic. Dr. DeVivo’s research on CWD allowed her to collaborate on and coauthor the recently adopted WDFW CWD Management Plan. Along with WDFW’s wildlife veterinarian and wildlife health staff, Dr. DeVivo coordinates efforts on statewide surveillance of CWD and monitoring outbreaks of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease/Bluetongue in cervids. Her presentation will focus on the background, history and distribution, and management concerns of CWD and EHD/Bluetongue in Washington.