The Hosts With The Mosts
What is the white-footed mouse?
This describes a pathogen's movement from its usual host species into a new host species.
What is spillover?
If you wake up to a bat in your bedroom, it is a good idea to call your doctor to receive treatment for which zoonotic disease?
What is rabies?
Grey wolves were reintroduced into this national park in 1995.
What is Yellowstone National Park?
Talk about man's best friend. This species is the leading cause of rabies deaths worldwide.
What are domestic dogs?
Avian Influenza
What are shorebirds or waterfowl?
This type of host maintains a pathogen in nature and serves as a long-term source of infection.
What is a reservoir host?
This Order contains all known species of bats.
What is Chiroptera?
This prey species increased dramatically after wolf extirpation and became the primary target following wolf reintroduction.
What are elk?
This spooky season icon may have been inspired by rabies infections in humans.
What are werewolves?
Sin Nombre Virus
What is the deer mouse?
What is an amplifying host?
Hibernation helps bats survive winter when insects are scarce, but it also creates ideal conditions for transmission of this fungal disease.
What is white-nose syndrome?
Ranchers often cite this concern when discussing wolf recovery programs.
What is livestock depredation?
This is a treatment given prior to rabies exposure.
What is pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP?
West Nile Virus
What are (passerine) birds?
These are usually arthropods that can carry a pathogen from one host to infect another.
What are vectors?
Bats posses an extraordinary combination of traits including species richness, longevity, sociality, and this which is the only example of it among mammals.
What is powered flight?
This ecosystem engineer may have been overlooked in the aspen recovery efforts in Yellowstone.
What are beavers?
In 2025, Vermont saw this animal test positive for rabies more than any other.
What are raccoons?
Chlamydia psittaci
What are birds?
Humans are considered this type of host for West Nile Virus as they do not develop high enough viral loads to infect mosquitoes.
What is a dead-end host?
In many Western traditions, bats became associated with this supernatural creature, especially after the publication of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
What is a vampire?
This ecological term describes the idea that wolves caused widespread changes through effects on herbivores.
What is a trophic cascade?
This is the usual treatment strategy for rabies exposure in previously unvaccinated individuals.
What is RIG plus PEP?