For decades, research on wildlife parasites and pathogens has often relied on methods that require capturing, handling, or even euthanizing animals. These invasive approaches can impose considerable stress on wildlife. However, according to a recently published article by researchers at the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, a growing number of modern, non-invasive methods, such as citizen science, digital epidemiology, and eDNA, are now available that enable the monitoring of parasites and pathogens without placing substantial stress or burden on wild animals, showing that in many cases, animals do not even need to be captured. 

According to the authors, the growing adoption of non-invasive surveillance methods benefits nature conservation, animal health, and ultimately human health alike. These innovative tools enable earlier detection of emerging wildlife infections and provide a more accurate understanding of how pathogens and parasites spread, while making wildlife research more ethical and sustainable.

They’re wriggly black grubs more commonly tossed to backyard hens than served at the dinner table, but black soldier fly larvae could soon play a key role in building a more sustainable food system, according to new research from Adelaide University.

Florida State University researchers are part of an international team whose work reveals that North and South American mammals interacted before the Panamanian land bridge formed about 3 million years ago.