Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

At present, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is in the process of taking over the national animal damage control program from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. I discuss the history of the federal animal damage control program with the U.S. Department of Agriculture beginning in the late 1800s. Once USDA assumes full control of the present program, the areas of emphasis will be cooperative operational control, research, and informational and educational efforts. For the first time, the program will have a Secretary’s advisory committee on ADC. An interdepartmental policy committee chaired by APHIS will involve other USDA agencies: Forest Service, Extension Service, Economic Research Service, Agricultural Research Service, and Cooperative State Research Service. Details of future efforts in research, and in information and education, are discussed.