Dr. James G. Sikarskie

I have 33 years experience as a zoo veterinarian and have run a wildlife rehabilitation center as a teaching facility for veterinary students for 33 years as well. I have a lot of research experience in the area of environmental toxicology using wildlife (especially bald eagles) as biomonitors of environmental quality while evaluating the impact of environmental change (contaminants, disease, habitat loss, etc.) on wildlife. Research interests continue in the area of Wildlife as Biomonitors and the Veterinarians Role in Wildlife Management here in the US and internationally.

I have done some consulting in the area of remediation of contaminated sites and the use of wildlife as biomonitors to evaluate the success or impact of remediation or clean up efforts. I have also served on many advisory boards for State and National Organizations and Agencies helping make policy and evaluating medical or management protocols.

I have an interest in developing Fish Eating Eagles of the Genus Haliaeetus as indicators of environmental health as well as potential toxic exposure to humans eating fish from those same locations in the many areas around the world where these eagles exist. I also am interested in veterinary medical means of managing wildlife such as use of vaccines and anthelmintics. I have a special interest in how the oral vaccines being developed to control Tuberculosis in the wildlife reservoir in New Zealand might have application in managing the TB problem in Kruger Park in South Africa and the problem in White-tailed Deer here in Michigan.

Industry concerns about impact of contaminants on wildlife or monitoring the effects of an industrial accident would be of interest. Pharmaceutical Companies interested in developing biologicals or drugs used to treat wild populations might be interestedin my background, experience and research interests.