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animal, perform a physical exam, collect
samples, and release the animal. Getting
to work with the wildlife biologists is great
because they are real experts in the field.”
Winter spends a lot of time in the lab.
“We’re looking for viral, bacterial, and fungal
pathogens in blood and swab samples
collected from the animals,” said Winter.
“We’re also looking at other biomarkers
of disease such as changes in blood cell
counts, blood biochemistry values like
sodium and glucose, and blood protein
levels. These diagnostic tools, in combina-
tion with our physical exam, help us create
a health profile for each individual animal.”
Animals are also tested for environmen-
tal contaminants and toxins such as
pesticides and heavy metals.
Winter, a native of Fort Myers, Florida,
Above: Hip-deep in water, Dr. Allender (left) and Dr. Winter disentangle wood ducks from nets and assess their health. graduated from the University of Illinois
Left: A South American callamico monkey is examined by Dr. Winter during his clinical cross-training at Brookfield Zoo. College of Veterinary Medicine where the
emphasis was on treating individual animals
Residents work closely with mentors local wildlife for government agencies, in human care—pets, farm animals, and
from the three partner institutions. They including the Centers for Disease Control even zoo animals. “If a dog comes to
receive training in free-ranging wildlife and Prevention. Zoonotic diseases found a veterinarian with a cough, it might receive
health surveillance from FPCC wildlife in Cook County wildlife have included medication and maybe an X-ray.”
biologists; clinical training in diagnosing rabies, avian influenza, tuberculosis, However, treating disease in free-ranging
and treating zoo animals at Brookfield distemper, encephalitis, West Nile virus, wildlife requires a different approach called
Zoo; and research, diagnostic, and and COVID-19. population management. “Population
laboratory training with professionals Brookfield Zoo veterinarians have management refers to the discipline of
at the University of Illinois Wildlife examined animals, collected blood and whole-population health rather than
Epidemiology Laboratory. other samples, and implanted tracking individual-animal medicine,” said Allender.
During the residency, Winter will be devices into animals that can’t wear them. “The principle is to monitor individual
involved in the health management of at animals within a population as a surrogate
least nine different populations, including Whole-Population of the health of the whole population.”
white-tailed deer, Blanding’s turtles, red- Health For example, a wildlife veterinarian may
eared sliders, soft-shelled turtles, river otters, Winter works closely with wildlife be monitoring a group of ducks in a pond
coyotes, several populations of raptors, biologists, who are experts in affixing and find several that test positive for avian
several species of shore and aquatic birds, tracking devices to animals that transmit botulism, an infectious disease that kills
and various fish species. He has already information such as the animals’ location, between 10,000 and 50,000 birds a year,
worked with a number of species since and where and how far they travel. according to the Cornell Wildlife Health
he began his residency last July. They set traps to capture animals without Lab. The population management approach
The residency builds on long-standing hurting them, and know which traps might include removing dead or sick ani-
partnerships between CZS, the University work best for different species. Some mals, treating the pond water to kill the
of Illinois, and the FPCC. CZS staff have of the animals, such as coyotes, travel bacteria, or draining the pond.
provided veterinary services to wildlife great distances in a single day. Wildlife veterinarians do more than
biologists in FPCC’s Wildlife Division who “We work as quickly as possible,” monitor populations for pathogens and
conduct ongoing disease monitoring of said Winter. “We safely capture the toxins. “A lot of our work involves collecting

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