Oregon wildlife officials are monitoring marine mammal populations along the state’s coastline after reports of a concerning disease outbreak in neighboring Washington state. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services confirmed last week that several marine mammals in Washington had tested positive for the disease, prompting increased surveillance in Oregon.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is collaborating with federal agencies to assess the potential risk to Oregon’s marine mammal populations. While no cases have yet been identified within the state, officials are taking proactive measures to detect and respond to any potential spread of the illness. The ODA advises the state’s agricultural community on policy issues and develops recommendations on key agricultural concerns, and is now extending its focus to include wildlife health.
The Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center (EOARC) – Burns, a collaboration between the USDA-Agricultural Research Service and Oregon State University, houses ten research scientists currently engaged in various agricultural and ecological studies. These scientists, including Dr. David Bohnert, Professor and Director at EOARC-Burns and EOARC-Union, and Dr. Katie Wollstein, Assistant Professor and Rangeland Fire Specialist, contribute to the broader understanding of environmental factors that could impact wildlife health. While their research isn’t directly focused on marine mammal diseases, their expertise in ecological monitoring and disease transmission is relevant to the current situation.
The USDA-Agricultural Research Service maintains a significant presence in Oregon, with seven scientists stationed at the Burns location and additional researchers at the Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center in Pendleton. Scientists at the Pendleton facility, including Hero Gollany, a Soil Scientist, and Kate Reardon, a Microbiologist, are focused on soil health and microbiology, areas that could indirectly inform understanding of environmental factors contributing to disease outbreaks. The USDA ARS facility in Pendleton also has vacant positions for an Agronomy Scientist and a Soil Scientist.
The specific disease affecting marine mammals in Washington state has not been publicly disclosed, and officials have not released details regarding the species affected or the severity of the outbreak. The USDA has not issued a public statement beyond confirming the initial reports. The ODA has established a hotline for reporting any unusual marine mammal sightings or suspected cases of illness, but has not yet provided specific guidance to the public regarding preventative measures.
