Annette Roug

I am the wildlife veterinarian for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources where I oversee the State's Wildlife Health Program. I hold a veterinary degree from the School of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany, as well as a Masters of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and PhD in wildlife epidemiology from the University of California Davis, USA. My PhD research mainly focused on the health and ecology of African buffaloes in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania and the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis at the wildlife, livestock, and human interface in communities adjacent to the park. Since moving to Utah, I have predominantly conducted research within the fields of wildlife health and wildlife capture, and started working with beavers in 2017 when assisting biologists with placing radio tracking devices. Since then, I have learned more about the incredible benefits that beavers can have for riverine habitats, and am excited about the option of moving nuisance beavers in place of other alternatives. However, animal translocation needs to be conducted responsibly without the risk of moving harmful pests and pathogens, and beaver translocation is no different. As more and more wildlife and habitat managers are becoming aware of the benefits beavers can provide, the need for a scientifically sound beaver translocation protocol is increasing. We are trying to fill this need with the proposed project.

April 2019