The AHB funds regular surveys of wild animal populations to determine the extent of Tb-infected wildlife.

Pigs and ferrets, in particular, are good indicators of disease.  They will eat anything that is dead, including any animal that may have died of Tb. Deer are also occasionally surveyed.

Experienced hunters are used during summer and autumn for ferret surveys, while, hunters and landowners (or their agents) submit pig heads from areas where possums and ferret control is not presently being undertaken.