MY RESEARCH

Research and Cultural Experiences: Research

"GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES IN NORTHERN RACCOONS (PROCYON LOTOR) IN OKLAHOMA"

JANUARY 2025 - PRESENT

Assessing and identifying the ova of parasites excreted in the feces of raccoons admitted into rehabilitation in Oklahoma to assess for zoonotic parasites such as Baylisascaris procyonis and Hetereobilharzia americana.

PRESENTATIONS AND LITERATURE

Publications

Funk, W., Shadbolt, T., Fox, M., Sainsbury, T., Blake, D. 2025. “Identification of Porrocaecum moraveci in red kites in England and Wales, a species of conservation concern.” Parasitology Research. 124(6), 61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-025-08512-1
Funk, W., Duncan, K. 2025. “Seeing double”. April Case of the Month. National Center for Veterinary Parasitology. https://www.ncvetp.org/case-of-the-month/archives/04-2025

Presentations

Funk, W. “The Role of Wildlife Rehabilitation in Conservation”. University of Central Oklahoma Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society (Sep. 10, 2025). Edmond, OK, US. Powerpoint.
Funk, W. Thomas, M., Yates, M., Ford, A., More, S., Taylor, J., Abbott, K. “Disease Outbreaks & Vaccine Efficacy in Raccoons in Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study”. 73rd Annual International Conference of the Wildlife Disease Association (Jul. 31, 2025). Victoria, BC, CA. Poster.
Funk, W. “Wildlife Rehabilitation: The Unseen Partner in Wildlife Health”. WDA2025 Global Voice (Jul. 28, 2025). Online. Powerpoint.
Vendel, C. (Host), Funk, W. . Will and the raccoons [audio podcast episode]. In Wildlife Health Talks. Wildlife Disease Association (March 9, 2025). Podcast.
Funk, W. “Disease Trends, Outbreaks, and Vaccine Efficacy in Rehabbed Raccoons”. National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Annual Symposium (Feb. 24, 2025). Seattle, WA., United States. PowerPoint.
Funk, W. “Opportunistic Disease Surveillance in Free-ranging Raptors in Oklahoma” National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Annual Symposium (Feb. 20, 2025). Seattle, WA. United States. Poster.
Funk, W. “Disease in Raccoons: Outbreaks and Vaccine Efficacy”. Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine Pathology Club Wet Lab (Oct. 20, 2024). OSU, Stillwater, OK, United States. PowerPoint.
Campbell, J., Abbott, K., McKown, M., Funk, W., O’Connell, T., Loss, S., Brandao, J. “Intake causes of wild raptors to a wildlife rehabilitation center in Oklahoma (2020-2022). American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges’ Veterinary Scholars Symposium (Aug 9, 2024). St. Paul, MN, US.
Funk, W. “Research and Rehabilitation: Bridging the Gap Between Citizen Science and Academia”. IWRC Tea and Coffee Monthly Meeting (Mar. 25, 2024). Online. PowerPoint.
Funk, William, Tammy Shadbolt, Mark Fox, Damer Blake. “Morphologic and Molecular Characterization of Nematodes in Red Kites (Milvus milvus)”. Royal Veterinary College Postgraduate Research Symposium (Sept. 9, 2022). RVC, London, England. PowerPoint.
Funk, William, Kyle Abbott, and Dan Bryant. “Comparative Enclosure Design for Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) in a Rehabilitation Setting: A Case Study”. Royal Veterinary College Postgraduate Case Study Symposium (May 31, 2022). RVC, London, England. Poster.
Funk, William, Chance Taylor, and Lily Grant. “A Comparison of the Growth of C3 and C4 Monocots in Sandy Soil”. Botany Department Research Symposium (December 6, 2017). OSU, Stillwater, OK. Poster.
Funk, William, John Sanderson, Alex Wilkins, and Drew Meyer. “Effect of Light Quality and Quantity on Growth and Development of C3 and C4 Grasses”. Botany Department Research Symposium (April 28, 2016). OSU, Stillwater, OK. Poster
Funk, William, Shelby Fraser, Sam Fuhlendorf. “Coyote Diets in Relation to Controlled Burns”. Henry Bellman Department of Undergraduate Research Symposium (April 15, 2016) and Karen L. Smith Undergraduate Research Symposium. (April 21, 2016). OSU, Stillwater, OK. Poster.

Grey Literature

Funk, W., Abbott, K., Gundlach, E., Thomas, M., Rusinko, P., Pline, J., Suttcliffe, K. (2024). Animal Care Protocols. WildCare Oklahoma. Noble, OK, United States. In-House Protocols.
Funk, W. (2022) Avian necropsy protocols. WildCare Oklahoma. Noble, OK, United States. In-House Protocols.

Literature in Preparation

Funk, W. “Euthanasia” in The Veterinary Technician’s Wildlife Reference. (Contracted; In Review). Wiley, Hoboken, NJ.
Funk, W., Gruntmeir, J. “Wildlife Parasitology and Laboratory Techniques” in The Veterinary Technician’s Wildlife Reference. (Contracted; In Preparation) Wiley, Hoboken, NJ.
Funk, W. “Parvoviruses in Raccoons: Current Understandings and Captive Management Implications”. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (In Review).
Funk, W, Thomas, M., Yates, M., More, S., Ford, A., Taylor, J., Abbott, K. “Efficacy of standard vaccination protocols in Northern raccoons (Procyon lotor) against parvovirus in rehabilitation: A pilot trial.” Journal of Wildlife Rehabilitation (In Preparation).
Funk, W. Thomas, M. “Morbidity and Mortality of Raccoons Admitted to an Oklahoma Rehabilitation Center Between 2015 and 2024”. Journal of Wildlife Rehabilitation (In Preparation)
Funk, W, “Assessment of Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor) Rehabilitation and Disease Outbreaks in North American Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers Between 2019 – 2024.” Journal of Wildlife Rehabilitation (In Preparation)
Funk, W. “Assessment of Translocations of Mesocarnivores in Oklahoma Admitted to Rehabilitation”. Journal of Wildlife Management (In Preparation).
Funk, W., Duncan, K. "Gastrointestinal Parasites in Northern Raccoons (Procyon lotor) Admitted for Rehabilitation: A Public Health Assessment”. Veterinary Parasitology (In Preparation).

TEACHING EXPRIENCE

COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

Co-instructor lecturing to 2nd and 3rd year veterinary students enrolled in the class VMED 7661: Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Wild Animals Elective; topics to include wildlife rehabilitation, zoonotic parasites, and captive medical management.

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT (GUEST LECTURER), HADLOW COLLEGE

Guest lectured to A-level students enrolled in the Animal Management Course on the topic of Ethics and Welfare Considerations with Captive Wildlife.

FOUNDATIONS OF WILDLIFE REHABILITATION, INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS COUNCIL

15-hour RACE approved lab and lecture. Multiple classes (both virtual and in-person) on various topics in wildlife rehabilitation, including a general introduction to wildlife rehabilitation, fluid therapy, animal welfare, thermoregulatory medical problems, admissions and identification, nutrition, capture and restraint, starvation and emaciation, zoonoses, wound management, stress and shock, head and spinal trauma, physical exam, release criteria, and euthanasia.

HORSE SCIENCE ACADEMY, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

November 2020 – The Equine Athlete. 8-hour lab and lecture. Taught 20 high school-aged students equine athleticism, including the cardiovascular system, the pulmonary system, and a gross dissection of a heart

November 2019 – Parasites, Their Management and Anthelmintic Resistance. 8-hour lab and lecture. Taught 20 high school-aged students equine parasite cycles and parasite management techniques.
November 2018 – Equine Anatomy. 8-hour lab and lecture. Taught 20 high school-aged students equine leg anatomy, including live palpations of muscles, tendons, and circulatory system and a gross dissection of a front leg.
November 2017 – Operant Conditioning and First Aid. 8-hour lab and lecture. Taught 20 high school-aged students equine first aid, equine behavior and handling skills, and how to create blood smears.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

VOLUNTARY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Oklahoma Chapter of The Wildlife Society
- Secretary of the Board of Directors, 2024 - Present.
Tricord Ranch Foundation
- Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Directors, 2024 - Present
- Member at Large of the Board of Directors, 2024 - 2024
- Advisory Board Member with a Focus on Conservation, 2023 - 2024
Oklahoma State University.
- Homecoming Council Residential Life Chair member, 2015
- Drummond Hall Community Council Floor President, 2015 - 2016

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Student Member, 2024 - Present
American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists Student Member, 2025 - Present
The Wildlife Society, 2024 - Present
National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NRWA) Member, 2024 - Present
Association of Wildlife Veterinary Technicians and Nurses (AWildVTN) Member, 2024 - Present
Duck’s Unlimited Oklahoma Chapter Member, 2024 - Present
Wildlife Disease Association Member, 2023 - Present
Wild Animal Alumni Association Member, 2023 - Present
International Wildlife Rehabilitators Council (IWRC) Member, 2020 - Present
European Wildlife Disease Association Student Member, 2022-2023
The Wildlife Society Oklahoma State University Chapter Student Member, 2018-2020

EXTERNSHIPS

SOUTH AFRICA: ECOLIFE EXPEDITIONS: VETS-IN-THE-WILD

July 16 - August 14, 2021

A 3-week introductory course to veterinary medicine in rural Africa. During the course, we worked with disease ecologists, game capture operators, local veterinary outreach teams, and game ranch owners. Additionally, we learned about chemical immobilization, reptile medicine, and fish anesthesia. Some species we worked with include giraffe, nyala, waterbuck, and rhino. After the course of the program, I got involved with Rhino 911 and assisted in the capture and dehorning of 3 rhino bulls and the application of cow/calf monitoring devices on a mother/calf pair. Cultural areas of interest visited included the Voottrekker Monument, Soweto, Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center, the Kruger NP, and Pilanesberg NP.

AUSTRALIA: INTERNATIONAL SCHOLAR LAUREATE PROGRAM: DELEGATION ON MEDICINE AND SCIENCE – AUSTRALIA

May 19 - 26, 2019

An invitation only conference for college age students with an interest in medicine and sciences. Topics covered under this conference included guest lectures on the latest cancer research in Australia, Bush medicine, issues in rural medicine, Australian Health Care policies and issues, and end of life care. Additionally, there were tours of medical schools in Melbourne and Sydney and cultural experiences such as touring the Sydney Opera House, exploring the Rocks Historical District in Sydney, and the Vivid Sydney Festival of Lights, Music, and Ideas. As a final requirement of the program, participants were required to brainstorm an issue in the medical industry and form a proposal for a potential remedy of said issue.