The Shared Wildlife Health Information System (SWHIS): An Online Case Management System to Support Wildlife Management

As emerging infectious diseases and human–wildlife interactions increasingly transcend political boundaries, the ability to detect patterns, compare data, and respond in a coordinated manner depends on the availability of interoperable, well-structured data systems. Wildlife health data are often collected by diverse stakeholders—including field biologists, wildlife rehabilitators, hunters, veterinarians, and diagnostic laboratories—using inconsistent methods, terminology, and levels of detail. Data stored in isolated systems results in duplication, information loss, and barriers to integration. This paper describes the design and development of the Shared Wildlife Health Information System (SWHIS), an online database system designed to facilitate wildlife health data management. Development incorporated continuous stakeholder feedback, including input from state wildlife management agencies, to ensure the system aligned with real-world workflows and user needs. Launched in October 2022, SWHIS is supported by a dedicated development team with a growing suite of tools to meet diverse user needs. Priority features under development include a mobile field application, a public reporting tool, and an event alerting system. By improving data standardization, accessibility, and long-term preservation, systems like the SWHIS strengthen wildlife health surveillance capacity and support timelier, evidence-based decision-making across jurisdictional boundaries.