Diseases that Threaten Connecticut's Wildlife
What is
'wildlife'?
What is a 'disease'?
The definition of wildlife has changed over time. The old-fashioned definition includes only the native, undomesticated animals (fauna) to a region. This does NOT include the plant life (flora) or even fish, for some reason!
Today, wildlife is defined more by anything that is wild and alive.
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This website will discuss diseases that threaten CT's amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds. Not enough research was found on other animal groups.
A disease is some sort of condition that affects an organism and impairs its normal bodily functions. This could be a physical or mental condition (or it may impair both), and symptoms vary from disease to disease.
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They have many causes, though the ones most common in wildlife seem to be caused by a virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasite.
Flip through the pictures below to learn more about a group, and then click one to learn more about diseases that affect them!
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/57f186_ea2760204a1e473796447639bd686be2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_118,h_121,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/57f186_ea2760204a1e473796447639bd686be2~mv2.jpg)
The fungus Chytridiomycota
Source: Wikipedia
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/57f186_e304e243b1ba4776960114e03654f64f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_159,h_107,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/57f186_e304e243b1ba4776960114e03654f64f~mv2.jpg)
A white-tailed deer of CT
Source: Wikipedia