Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Wildlife Ecology
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Abbey K Thompson
Graduate Research Assistant |
Contact
Information:
A226 Russell Labs
1630 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608.263.7595
E-mail: akthomp1@wisc.edu
Education:
BS Zoology and Biological Aspects of Conservation, University of
Wisconsin-Madison 2001
Current Research: Role of baiting and feeding in CWD transmission (link)
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a progressive neurological
disease that has become an emerging issue in cervid health in North
America. In fall 2001, CWD was discovered in three hunter
harvested male white-tailed deer in southwestern Wisconsin. As a main
component of the WDNR control strategy, an emergency rule was enacted
banning the practice of baiting and/or feeding of white-tailed
deer. Most wildlife experts agree that baiting and feeding of
wildlife poses considerable risk for transmission of infectious disease
and these aggregations provide the potential for amplified CWD
transmission through direct contacts and/or environmental
contamination. Our research aims to evaluate and quantify the
role of supplemental feeding and baiting in the potential direct and
indirect transmission of disease in white-tailed deer and to explore
the use of biomarkers as a means of further quantifying supplemental
food use and the risk of disease transmission.
Presentations:
Thompson, A.K., M.D. Samuel, and T.R. VanDeelen. 2005. Risk of CWD transmission associated with supplemental feeding and baiting of free-ranging white-tailed deer. Poster. The Wildlife Society 12th Annual Conference, Madison, Wisconsin, September.
Thompson, A.K., M.D. Samuel, and T.R. VanDeelen. 2005. Risk of CWD transmission associated with supplemental feeding and baiting of free-ranging white-tailed deer. Presentation at Wisconsin District 6 Conservation Congress Meeting. Babcock, Wisconsin, August.
Thompson, A.K., M.D. Samuel, and T.R. Van Deelen. 2005. Risk of CWD transmission associated with supplemental feeding and baiting of free-ranging white-tailed deer. Poster. Second International Chronic Wasting Disease Symposium, Madison, Wisconsin, July.
Thompson, A.K., M.D. Samuel, and T. VanDeelen. 2004. Risk of CWD Transmission Associated with Supplemental Feeding and Baiting of Free-ranging White-tailed Deer. Wisconsin DNR CWD Research Meeting. Madison WI, March 24.
Advisor: Michael D. Samuel