Pharmaceutical tools for wildlife medicine and management: 2000 and beyond

Pharmaceuticals will play an increasing role in wildlife management in North American in the future. Pharmaceuticals for use in wildlife medicine and management must be made available to the wildlife veterinarian and wildlife manager to address the situations existing today. The challenges for pharmaceuticals to be used in wildlife are 1) development of new technology and molecules, 2) acceptable route of delivery, and 3) the challenge of the federal regulatory process. All three aspects must come together in an environment of informed cooperation between the needs of the wildlife veterinarian, the pharmaceutical industry and the appropriate regulatory agencies. It is the collective responsibility of all three to ensure these essential tools are available to meet the challenges for wildlife pharmaceuticals beyond 2000.