Newly Created Wildlife Disaster Network Aids Several Wildfire Victims
"Earlier this week, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced the joint formation of the Wildlife Disaster Network (WDN). This group of veterinarians, wildlife biologists, ecologists, trained animal care volunteers, and rehabilitation centers was created to bring experts together to respond to injured wildlife and prevent suffering.
The SVM and CDFW successfully teamed up in 2017 when Dr. Deana Clifford, a CDFW wildlife veterinarian, enlisted the help of Dr. Jamie Peyton, a critical care specialist and chief of the Integrative Medicine Service at the UC Davis veterinary hospital, to treat animals burned in the Thomas Fire. The WDN looks to build on that teamwork and on the strengths of Dr. Peyton’s pioneering work in treating burn victims with biological bandages made from the skin of tilapia fish.
The network is already aiding several animals injured in California’s latest wildfires. Network teams throughout Northern California are treating about a dozen animals at various facilities."