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Latest News

Latest News

NEW PUB: Exposure and survival of wild raptors during the 2022-2023 highly pathogenic influenza a virus outbreak

A new study co-authored by Dr. Victoria Hall, Director of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, sheds light on raptor survival following infection with highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza. Published in Nature, the research—conducted during her time at The Raptor Center in Minnesota—reveals that a significant number of raptors, including bald eagles, have developed antibodies to H5 and N1, suggesting a higher-than-expected survival rate post-infection.

When They Were Students ft. Rosemarie Scharf

'When They Were Students' is a feature highlighting the diverse and unique journeys of our OHI team members into their current One Health careers.

My career has been anything but linear, and if there’s one piece of advice I’d give to young students, it’s this: say yes to opportunities, even if they scare you. Growth happens outside your comfort zone, and the best paths are often the ones you never planned for.

When They Were Students ft. Catherine Lo

'When They Were Students' is a feature highlighting the diverse and unique journeys of our OHI team members into their current One Health careers.

Hi, I’m Catherine. I am a researcher with the SeaDoc Society, a program of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the UC Davis One Health Institute. I was born and raised in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon consumed by countless hours of Rock Band, swim team practices, Girl Scouts, and Knox, the sticky hair-ripping gelatin cast I used as a synchronized swimmer.

Among the Academies: Solving Outbreak Mysteries

As a wildlife veterinarian in Florida in the 1990s, Christine Kreuder Johnson could think of only one place to turn for help when she faced mysterious die-offs of birds and sea turtles: UC Davis.

Johnson had previously worked as a veterinarian to horses competing at the racetrack, but found herself increasingly drawn to puzzles at the population level, like the one she now faced at a national wildlife refuge. But she needed help.

“I had all the puzzle pieces, but I couldn’t put it together,” she said.

When They Were Students ft. David Wolking

'When They Were Students' is a feature highlighting the diverse and unique journeys of our OHI team members into their current One Health careers.

An Unconventional Journey to One Health

Hey, I’m David. I grew up in Detroit in the ‘80s and was into making bad films with friends, editing the high school literary magazine, hanging at Grateful Dead and Phish festivals in the Great Lakes region, and later anything boho, indie, or punk in and around Chicago and Detroit.

NEW PUB: Chlamydial infections in free-ranging raptors presenting to a university veterinary medical teaching hospital (1993-2022)

Our California Raptor Center director Dr. Michelle Hawkins is lead author on a recent publication describing the prevalence, clinical findings, lesions, and risk factors associated with chlamydial infections in raptors admitted to a university veterinary medical teaching hospital from 1993-2022.

For more information and findings, check out the full publication in AVMA's American Journal of Veterinary Research:

NOW HIRING: Postdoctoral Researcher

The application deadline for an exciting postdoc opportunity in our team has been extended to January 31, 2025! If you want to help investigate the ecological drivers of zoonotic virus emergence and develop models to understand spillover risk, apply online at ohi.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/careers

Rx One Health Field Institute 2025 - Applications Now Open

The 2025 Rx One Health Field Institute welcomes you to join us June 22–July 5, 2025! Explore California's vibrant and diverse ecosystems while building One Health skills! The 2025 theme is Biodiversity Conservation.

Elephant Seal Colony Declines One Year After Avian Flu Outbreak

The sounds of barking elephant seals are again in the air along the breeding grounds of Península Valdés, Argentina—but it’s quieter. Roughly a year after a massive outbreak of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza killed more than 17,000 elephant seals, including about 97% of their pups, scientists estimate that only about a third of the elephant seals normally expected here returned.

Student Spotlight: Lizzy Ashley, DVM/PhDc

Lizzy Ashley’s PhD research in Dr. Christine Kreuder Johnson’s lab focuses on the ecology and epidemiology of avian influenza (e.g., HPAI H5N1) in marine wildlife. In California, she partners with the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, government agencies, and rehabilitation centers to conduct influenza surveillance in stranded and apparently healthy pinnipeds, waterbirds, and sea otters.

Aggies in One Health: Q&A with Brian Wang

Brian is completing his final year as a veterinary student at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

What first sparked your love of animals?

Growing up, there was pretty much always at least one dog in our household. They were some of my closest friends who would always be there whenever I needed them. They taught me how to care for animals and gave me some sense of responsibility in their training and care.

Park Fire Response Underway

California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET) has been deployed in response to the Park Fire since Thursday July 25. From the origin of the fire and through the weekend, Butte County and animal volunteers have cared for 164 animals in designated disaster animal shelters, 100 small animal and 64 large animal. CVET has provided veterinary services at both the small and large animal shelters and operationally has run over 50 veterinary requests.