Funk’s Wildlife Disease Lab

08/18/2026

If any rehabbers haven't taken this course, look into it. It's a great introduction for new rehabbers to complex systems, and a great refresher for experienced practitioners. I'll be teaching the Kansas, Michigan, and Oklahoma classes this year, so if that's near you, sign on up!

Registration for the IWRC's Fall 2026 live courses is now open! Learn more or sign up at https://theiwrc.org/courses

Foundations of Wildlife Rehabilitation Online

September 21 - 27 (schedule)
October 12 - 18 (schedule)
November 2 - 8 (schedule)
November 9 - 15 (schedule)

View lecture & lab times for each online course session here: https://theiwrc.org/foundations-class-schedules/ Anyone from any time zone can register for any online class, as long as you are able to commit to attending the live sessions.

Foundations of Wildlife Rehabilitation In Person

Sabetha, Kansas, USA | 9/19 - 9/20
Phoenix, Arizona, USA | 10/10 - 10/11
Eaton Rapids, Michigan, USA | 10/17 - 10/18
Pasadena, California, USA | 11/14 - 11/15
Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA | 12/05 - 12/06

Pain & Wound Management In Person
Bay Village, Ohio, USA | 9/19

Online Self-Paced Courses

Wound Management
Parasitology
Zoonoses
Fluid Therapy
Reuniting & Wild Fostering Raptors

Don't see an in person class in your area? Consider hosting! Hosts help to find a venue for the class, get the word out, and help with a few other logistics (such as receiving & storing mailed supplies, helping instructors find accommodation, and identifying potential lab assistants). Find out more: https://forms.gle/JL61NU634hoWmhxa6 See less

08/14/2026

Following the successful defense of my thesis, here are my primary findings!

Raccoons play a key role in the transmission of disease on the urban-domestic-wildlife interface, a key component of the One Health theory. Understanding the roles they play in the evolution of zoonotic and sylvatic pathogens is essential as urbanization continues and raccoons are introduced to novel environments across the globe.

07/11/2026

Hard work is finally paying off and it's time to defend. Come learn about the various viral diseases that affect raccoons, brain dwelling parasites, and how we can try to stop them before they affect humans that work with these mischievous urban carnivores.

The online link and physical location will be updated closer to the date in my bio, but for those of you in Oklahoma, plan to grab some fries from Eskimo Joes then swing by McElroy Hall on July 29th and pick my brain on all things raccoon and the role they play in human health!

06/09/2026

Understanding the host-parasite relationship is essential when identifying ova and understanding the disease potential related to those parasites. These three ova (Eucoleus boehmi, Eucoleus procyonis, and Trichuris vulpis) are morphologically similar, but affect their hosts in different ways:

- T. vulpis embed into the intestinal wall and can affect a wide range of carnivores
- E. boehmi infect the nasal cavity of canids, and the ova may be passed without hatching when ingested by non-canids
- E. procyonis primarily embed in the tongue and throat of raccoons, and generally do not cause disease in raccoons

The shape of the ova, texture of the external shell, and shape of the parasite larva within the o**m can all be used to differentiate between species of trichurid species.

06/09/2026

Closing night of Annual Meeting in Puerto Rico! It's been an amazing time learning about parasites, networking, relaxing in the sun, and presenting on raccoon roundworm in Oklahoma. Can't wait to return for another meeting!

04/28/2026

There's still time to sign up for this webinar focused on the prevention and management of infectious diseases in raccoons in wildlife rehabilitation! Tune in tomorrow at 5:30 PM CDT

We are very excited to be bringing this awesome talk to you on April 29th! Join us for a presentation by Will Funk, CWR "Management of Infectious Disease in Raccoons: Maximizing capacity while treating the individual"
Presentation to be held on Zoom and will be recorded for registered attendees
$10 NYSWRC Members with code MEMBERCOON
$15 Non Member
Sign up: https://www.nyswrc.org/virtualseminars

04/04/2026

Ask any raccoon rehabilitator and they'll say the same thing: neurologic disease in free ranging raccoons seems to be increasing, and it seems to be affect patients in care as well. My current research into retrospective records of neurologic clinical signs of raccoons admitted to a large rehabilitation center seems to be supporting that assessment, as neurologic clinical signs appear to be increasing while trauma and non-neurologic disease appear to be consistent. Understanding the diseases that affect these populations is essential to preventing them, particularly as many of these diseases have significant human and pet health implications.