People from the wildlife futures program in front of a building

About Us


Penn Vet’s Lisa Murphy and Julie Ellis and the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Matthew Schnupp

A Wildlife health partnership between the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, integrating disease surveillance and mitigation into a single, united effort to address wildlife populations at risk.

By combining the vast expertise and resources of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pennsylvania's only veterinary school, the Wildlife Futures Program implements a forward-thinking approach to ensure that Pennsylvania's wild species thrive for generations.

The Wildlife Futures Program is based at Penn Vet's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, with staff members spanning across every region of Pennsylvania.

Read the Wildlife Futures Program 2022-2023 Annual Report.


Wildlife Futures Program: Strategic Goals

  1. Surveillance and Diagnostics
    Facilitate wildlife health surveillance and contribute diagnostic expertise for Pennsylvania
    Game Commission and other partners.
  2. Research
    Establish a nationally recognized wildlife health research program that informs disease management strategies implemented by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and other partners.
  3. Education and Training
    Train wildlife health professionals for protection of healthy wildlife populations in Pennsylvania
    and beyond.
  4. Field Support
    Provide field support to the Pennsylvania Game Commission and advance best practices for
    handling and sampling wildlife.
  5. Communications and Outreach
    Deliver effective and timely communications to partners and constituents to increase support
    for actions that promote wildlife health.
  6. Program Sustainability and Visibility
    Provide leadership to the wildlife health community as a program that supports sustainable
    wildlife populations.

Meet the Wildlife Futures Team

The Wildlife Futures Program currently employs 28 wildlife health professionals across a wide array of disciplines. This team, combined with other Penn Vet faculty, staff, and students, and Pennsylvania Game Commission staff, work to improve wildlife health management in Pennsylvania and beyond.

Meet the Wildlife Futures Team


Our Funding Partners

PA Game Commission Logo
richard king mellon logo
Kleberg Foundation Logo