Zoonotic Disease Initiative to Fund Wildlife Disease Prevention and Preparedness

The Zoonotic Disease Initiative is a grant program focused on wildlife disease prevention and preparedness. Authorized under the American Rescue Plan (2021, H.R. 1319, Section 6003.3), the Initiative will provide up to $9 million in available funding to states, Tribes and territories to strengthen early detection, rapid response and science-based management research to address wildlife disease outbreaks before they cross the barrier from animals to humans and become pandemics.

The highest priority for the funding is to increase organizational readiness and ensure a network of state, Tribal and territorial wildlife managers across the nation are prepared for zoonotic disease outbreaks. Strengthening partner capacity for wildlife health monitoring will allow for the early detection of diseases.

The recipients of the 2023 Zoonotic Disease Initiative Grants are as follows:

Tribes
  • Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Developing Wildlife Disease Preparedness for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, $762,271 

  • Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Indigenous Wildlife Health Management Program Zoonotic Disease Initiative, $773,206  

  • Navajo Nation, Zoonotic Disease Preparedness and Response on Navajo Nation, $163,880  

  • Shivwits Band of Paiute Indians, Building Capacity for Wildlife Zoonosis Surveillance and Prevention, $713,554 

States
  • California, Building Wildlife Health and Zoonotic Disease Capacity Both Within and Beyond California’s Boundaries, $598,015

  • Massachusetts, Development of a Wildlife Health and Public Outreach Program for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, $773,300

  • Kentucky, A One Health Approach to Enhance Kentucky’s Fish and Wildlife Health Preparedness and Response to Existing and Emerging Zoonotic Diseases, $683,697

  • Indiana, Fostering a Sustainable Wildlife Health Program with a One Health Focus, $772,948

  • Hawaii, Marine Wildlife Zoonoses: Improving Biosafety and Increasing Diagnostic Capacity in the State of Hawai‘i and the Pacific Island Territories, $774,999

  • Maryland, Increasing Capacity to Address High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Surveillance and Management of Highly Susceptible Species in the Chesapeake Bay Region, $665,266

  • Arizona, Expanding Zoonotic Disease Surveillance and Response in Arizona through Interagency Coordination and Resource Development, $134,320 

Recipients of the 2022 Zoonotic Disease Initiative Grants:

Tribes
  • Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium - Developing Tribal Capacity for Zoonotic Disease Preparedness and Response – A One Health Initiative, $773,303
  • InterTribal Buffalo Council, Building Capacity and Strengthening Wildlife Health and Disease Networks Through Buffalo Necropsy Trainings in Indian Country, $247,544
  • Karuk Tribe, Ithivthaneenyav, One Good Earth, Indigenous Wildlife Health Infrastructure Project, $775,000
  • Lummi Indian Business Council, Lummi Nation Natural Resources Wildlife Disease Management Program, $354,067
  • Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska, Development of Avian Flu Prioritization for Multisector Engagement, $774,478
States
  • Alabama, Wildlife Health and Zoonotic Disease, $702,706
  •  Arkansas, Arkansas Fish and Wildlife Health Response Proposal for Zoonotic Disease Initiative Funding, $434,782
  • Florida, Increasing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Ability to Respond to Wildlife Disease Events: Building Capacity & Interconnections, $759,245
  • Indiana, Establishing a Stakeholder Preparedness Framework for Existing and Emerging Zoonoses, $764,410
  • Oregon, Building an Eastern Pacific Marine One Health Coalition to Strengthen Capacity for Health Monitoring, Zoonotic Disease Surveillance, Response and Management in Marine Ecosystems, $746,757

For more information, please contact Katie Steiger-Meister, katie_steiger-meister@fws.gov.

Programs