Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory
Illinois Natural History Survey • Prairie Research Institute
By Drs. Nelda A. Rivera and Nohra Mateus-Pinilla
CHAMPAIGN, IL – Tularemia is a zoonotic disease that has recently re-emerged in parts of Illinois. Here’s an overview of this bacterial disease, along with tips on how to empower yourself to safely enjoy your outdoor adventures and protect your dogs and cats.
Read the whole story in the Illinois Outdoor Journal here.
By Nelda A. Rivera and Nohra Mateus-Pinilla
CHAMPAIGN, IL – From river otters’ environment to their behavior- this article covers a decade of research in Illinois and the exciting findings.
For the complete story, please visit the Illinois Outdoor Journal, here.
The study published in the journal “Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety” found high concentrations of chemical compounds in the livers of 23 otters in central Illinois.
“Thus otters serve as biomonitors — organisms that contain information on the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the environment — of wildlife exposure,” according to a new study. They also serve as biomonitors for human health because the same toxic chemicals found in otters have also been found in people who eat contaminated fish.
“there are specific watersheds that are areas of concern — not only for otters — for any of the wildlife species that are living in those places, especially those at the top of the food chain.”
Read the whole story at Great Lakes Echo, here.
CHAMPAIGN, IL. – Researchers report that river otters in Central Illinois are being exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides that were banned in the U.S. in the 1970s and ’80s.
Read the whole story by the University of Illinois News Bureau here.