Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for a second round of Zoonotic Disease Initiative grants. Authorized under the American Rescue Plan, this additional funding will provide up to $9 million in grants to states, Tribes and territories to help address wildlife disease outbreaks before they become pandemics. The highest priority for the initiative is to increase organizational readiness and help state, Tribal and territorial wildlife managers prepare for and respond to zoonotic disease outbreaks.

“Zoonotic disease poses a severe threat to humans and wildlife and can be compounded by the effects of climate change,” said Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Our agency works closely with experts who specialize in public, animal and ecosystem health to develop comprehensive plans and appropriate responses to zoonotic disease events through a One Health approach. This funding will complement our partner projects by providing critical financial resources to those who help prevent and combat global pandemics before they start.”

Zoonotic diseases are defined as those that can be transmitted between wildlife and humans. The Service’s One Health approach to zoonotic diseases includes working closely with experts who specialize in public, animal and ecosystem health to develop comprehensive plans and appropriate responses to zoonotic disease events.

Grants awarded under the Zoonotic Disease Initiative will be used to establish and enhance the capabilities of Tribal, state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies to effectively address health issues involving free-ranging terrestrial, avian and aquatic wildlife. Funded work will strive to protect the public against zoonotic disease outbreaks before they become pandemics that pose a risk to the United States and beyond. In FY 2022, the Service awarded $6 million in Zoonotic Disease Initiative grant funding.

Grant proposals will be accepted between the date of this announcement and 11:59 p.m. EST on April 20, 2023. For more information, please visit the Service’s Zoonotic Disease Initiative webpage.

Since March 2021, the American Rescue Plan has delivered direct relief to the American people and has rescued the American economy from the impacts of COVID-19. This effort has changed the course of the pandemic and delivered immediate and direct relief to families and workers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis through no fault of their own.