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Working with the Chicago Zoological Society and
other partners, Anchor and his team provide ongoing
monitoring of local wildlife for zoonotic diseases.
In the past, these have included rabies, avian influenza,
tuberculosis, distemper, encephalitis, and West Nile virus.
They are part of a nation-wide disease-detection
system: a network of scientists and government agencies
tasked with the early detection of disease so actions can
be taken to prevent outbreaks. Anchor’s division has played
an outsized role in this effort—it is one of the oldest and
largest contributors of data on zoonotic diseases to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The health surveys of the Baker’s Lake wading birds
is an important part of this ongoing effort. Wild waterfowl
are reservoirs of a number of pathogens, which can be
spread widely by wading birds and other migrating species.
“We have been monitoring for highly pathogenic avian
influenza (HPAI) in wild birds for over 15 years as it Above: Juvenile birds at a Baker’s Lake rookery are tagged and given health assessments.
might develop the ability to cause a pandemic,” said Clockwise from lower left: Dr. Katie Delk, clinical veterinarian; Dr. Michael McEntire,
veterinary resident; Dr. Tom Meehan, vice president of Veterinary Services;
Meehan. Scientists fear that HPAI, which is currently and Chris Anchor, FPCC wildlife biologist. Photo credit: Jeff Nelson
a serious threat to the poultry industry and has been
transmitted from birds to humans, has the potential
to become transmissible between humans. An Enduring Partnership
Raccoon rabies is also on the radar of scientists and The century-long partnership between the Forest Preserves
public health officials. Raccoons in this part of the country of Cook County and the Chicago Zoological Society has
do not carry rabies, but the disease is prevalent in the been recognized as one of the most comprehensive and
Eastern United States where it is spread primarily by successful public-private partnerships between North American
raccoons. “Our raccoon densities are so high that if conservation organizations. It began in 1921, when the Board
we ever got raccoon rabies in this area, it would be very of Commissioners of the Forest Preserve District of Cook
difficult to eradicate,” said Anchor. County (now known as the Forest Preserves of Cook County)
If this occurs, “cats are going to become a huge threat,” and a group of prominent citizens established the private
said Meehan. People are more likely to become exposed nonprofit Chicago Zoological Society. The Society’s mission
to rabies from cats than from bats, skunks, or raccoons. was to create and manage a modern, world-class zoo—
Many cat owners allow their cats outdoors at night and Brookfield Zoo—on land donated to the Forest Preserves
don’t have them vaccinated for rabies as required by state by philanthropist Edith Rockefeller McCormick. The work
law. Studies have shown that raccoons and cats have over- discussed in this article is just one of the many ways the two
lapping habitats. organizations have worked together over the years to conserve
animals and their habitats, and to engage people and
A Few Success Stories communities with wildlife and nature.

Among Anchor’s success stories is the eradication of
LaCrosse virus from Busse Woods. The rare encephalitic
virus was found in the blood of white-tailed deer during Some of the deer around Busse Woods had been fitted with
a regular health surveillance. The virus, which can cause radio collars that transmitted their movements to researchers.
illness and death in infected people, is carried by a type “They could narrow down small sections of the Forest Preserves
of mosquito that makes its nest in water-filled holes and go there to look for these tree-hole nests,” said Anchor.
in trees. “It was an easy fix.” The nests were found and drained, which
Detecting and identifying pathogens, such as the got rid of the mosquitoes and the disease.
LaCrosse virus, in wild animal populations is often just Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease of dogs and humans was
a first step. Much of Anchor’s work involves the ongoing found in raccoons around a body of water commonly used
surveillance of animals, which enables researchers to as a swimming hole. Once the disease was diagnosed, Forest
pinpoint where animals are becoming infected and the Preserves staff treated the water in the swimming hole to clear
routes of disease transmission. The FPCC has 70,000 acres. the bacteria, similar to how water in swimming pools is treated.

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