Decision-Making in Wildlife Forensics: Comparing Complex and Simple Cases at the Wyoming Game and Fish Laboratory

Kimberly Frazier ^* Tasha Bauman

• Wyoming Game and Fish Dept, Laramie, United States

This study compares the decision-making processes and workflows of complex and simple wildlife forensic cases at the Wyoming Game and Fish Wildlife Forensic Laboratory.To highlight some of the forensic cases seen at the laboratory a complex case that consists of eighteen different animals will be discussed. This case will cover the process of subsampling, extraction methods, test methods, and results. As with most wildlife forensic laboratories, costs associated with analyses must be considered. Therefore, in a complex case there are several decision making points throughout the case to determine the number of samples to collect, if the samples contain biological material, the extraction methods to be used, and how to proceed with species identification. Once species of origin is determined, downstream analyses (sex identification, STRs, etc.) for the specific species are outlined in the appropriate standard operating procedures. Another critical decision making point is if samples are not producing viable results, when is it appropriate to stop analyses on a particular sample. This complex case also helps to highlight the ever evolving test methods in use in wildlife forensics and the need to continue to validate new techniques. Sanger sequencing used for species identification of the deer species did not allow for the differentiation between the closely related white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and a protein analysis was used to differentiate them. A new procedure, population assignment in conjunction with sequencing, validated after the complex case and prior to the simple case made the differentiation easier and more efficient.A simpler case received in the laboratory highlights the decision making points throughout the testing process and demonstrates that with limited evidence, there may not be as many choices. This case also highlights the importance of continual method validation with the laboratory's use of OdoPlex to determine species identification to differentiate between mule deer and whitetailed deer.