El Sauz Ranch is home to a variety of native and non-native wildlife species such as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), bobcat (Lynx rufus), nilgai antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus), and feral hogs (Sus scrofa). White-tailed deer were the primary target species of the study where annual survey data estimates white-tailed deer density to be approximately 1 deer/18 ha. Numerous infectious diseases remain a viable threat to community and animal health in the United States and in many instances, free-ranging wildlife populations can serve important roles as hosts and reservoirs in the transmission cycle (Cross et al. 2007.) Wildlife can transmit disease without any influence by humans generally. While treating wildlife for diseases is challenging, current oral prophylactic treatments are readily available and have the potential to drastically reduce or even prevent diseases.
