March 2022

Welcome to the 87th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. It is so nice to be able to see each other in person and not over a computer screen. I am sure that you, like me, missed reconnecting with your friends and colleagues during the last two years. We are happy that we can provide that opportunity, and also serve those who may not be able to make the conference by providing a virtual component. My sincere thanks to Matt Dunfee, the conference organizer, as well as Cindy Delaney and her talented team for assisting us in this conference. I also thank all the state agency, federal agency, tribal members, non-governmental organizations, businesses, industries, and exhibitors for your participation and financial support to make this 87th conference successful.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the expansion of wild bird surveillance for avian influenza to include the Mississippi and Central Flyways. This expansion also enlarged the existing surveillance program in the Atlantic and Pacific Flyways, which is in place to conduct surveillance of birds that may interact with wild birds from Europe and Asia. APHIS confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds in several states in the Atlantic Flyway in January as well as in a commercial turkey flock in Indiana on February 8, and the additional surveillance will increase the agency’s capability to track the disease throughout the United States.