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.

August 2020