Team Bio

The Cook Wildlife Lab is dedicated to wildlife disease prevention and management. We are involved in a variety of wildlife research and disciplines to promote better management and conservation of native and exotic wildlife species. Some of our projects include the epidemiology and management of chronic wasting disease, anthrax, brucellosis and Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, and the pharmacology of antibiotics and immobilizing agents.

Jamie Benn Felix

I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Cook Wildlife Lab at Texas A&M University. I have always been fascinated by wildlife and motivated to find a way to protect it. I made every effort to start gaining experience with animals early in my childhood, but truly began developing my professional career in wildlife while completing my bachelor’s in wildlife ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During a study abroad trip in South Africa, I learned about the burden that wildlife diseases place on conservation efforts. I was particularly intrigued by the ecology of anthrax, the fly transmission pathways that help exacerbate outbreaks and the interconnectedness of animals, microbes and the environment. This curiosity led me to pursue my PhD because I wanted to solve problems for wildlife and develop new ideas to push the wildlife and conservation fields forward. My PhD research at Texas A&M University laid the groundwork for this oral anthrax vaccine by first demonstrating that the current commercial vaccine is not effective when orally administered. Next, I created a new vaccine formulation, tested it in mice and recently published the success I observed from this first phase of vaccine development in npj Vaccines. With your generosity and support, I am excited to do my small part to save wildlife by continuing to develop this vaccine for future incorporation into wildlife bait.

Chase Nunez

I am PhD student at Texas A&M University studying Wildlife Pathobiology. I received my Bachelor's in Biomedical Sciences and my Master's in Biomedical Sciences with an emphasis in veterinary pathobiology and pharmacology. I am an avid outdoorsman from the heart of the Texas Hill Country in New Braunfels, Texas, spending nearly every chance I got hunting and fishing on my grandfather's ranch. This ranch was located in the eastern part of the anthrax enzootic region around Uvalde, Texas, so an unfortunate part of my upbringing included dealing with the seasonal anthrax outbreaks each summer. This, however, allowed me to experience first-hand what the wildlife, livestock, and ranchers continuously endure. Furthermore, as rancher and hunting guide for over 11 years, I fully understand the economic impacts and conservation detriments caused by anthrax outbreaks and realize the need for an effective vaccination protocol in free ranging populations.

My love for the outdoors and the wildlife that inhabit it was instilled in me from birth as a 7th generation Texan. That passion has blossomed into a career path with intentions that are clear: conserve, manage, protect, and enjoy the natural resources God has given us and educate others on the importance of the aforementioned to ensure the next generation has the opportunity to enjoy it the way I and my colleagues do. My professional experience with wildlife include research on extra-label drug usages in captive deer, validation of a novel immobilizing drug combination in wild ungulates, and disease surveillance in waterfowl, feral hogs, deer, pronghorn, and several iconic African species. I am well versed in the capture of dozens of wildlife species, including barasingha, Pere David's deer, and scimitar-horned oryx, as all three considered extinct in the wild.