The Wildlife Services’ National Wildlife Disease Program monitors plague (Yersinia pestis) activity in wildlife. Between 2005 and 2018, Wildlife Services and its partners collected approximately 45,000 blood samples from wildlife across the western United States, documenting plague exposure in 18 wildlife species, including coyotes, bobcats, and black bears. Evidence of plague activity was widespread, with seropositive animals detected in every western state of the contiguous U.S.

Large, long term datasets on Yersinia pestis exposure in wildlife can help us better understand the potential risks to wildlife, domestic animal, and human health.