UF Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory

Need to collect just a few hairs, fibers, or tiny trace evidence particles? Glasine bags and druggist folds are excellent tools for packaging small trace evidence because they help prevent evidence loss during handling and transport. Proper packaging is critical since even a single hair or fiber may become valuable evidence in an investigation.

We are excited to share information about our new evidence drying cabinet. This unit is used to safely dry wet evidence items such as clothing and other biological materials prior to long-term storage and downstream forensic processing. Controlled drying helps reduce sample degradation, minimizes contamination risk, and supports the preservation of DNA integrity for subsequent analysis. This addition strengthens our evidence handling workflow and further improves our capacity to process case materials in a consistent manner.

Chain of custody is one of the most important documents in forensic science. It tracks who collected the evidence, when it was transferred, where it was stored, and who analyzed it from collection through final disposition or destruction. Proper chain of custody helps maintain evidence integrity and supports admissibility in court.

Last week, Dr. Adam Stern presented three sessions on animal forensic science at the 25th Annual Prairie State Animal Welfare Conference in Bloomington, Illinois.

Topics included forensic examination of animals, evidence collection at both the scene and from the animal, and numerous real-world case studies demonstrating the application of forensic science in animal cruelty investigations.

“Being able to present at conferences nationwide and internationally is essential for training those responsible for investigating crimes against animals and highlighting how science can be used to explain what happened,” said Dr. Stern.

The VFSL would like to introduce Emily Letterle, who is our 2026 Florida Veterinary Summer Scholar. As part of her research, Emily will be working in the laboratory to validate the use of moisture as an objective biomarker for serous atrophy of bone marrow fat in dogs. This condition represents the final energy reserves utilized by an animal, and establishing an objective method to measure it will provide an important additional form of medical evidence in animal forensic autopsy cases.

We look forward to following her progress and seeing the results she generates throughout the summer!

Forensic Fact Wednesday. Did you know that in Florida it is illegal to filet a fish while still on open water? Wildlife officers must be able to identify the whole fish to determine if protected or regulated species are being possessed legally. Even if someone attempts to hide the species by fileting it, forensic DNA analysis can still be used to identify the fish species from the meat sample.

Recently, Florida Governor Desantis signed two new bills into law which will become active later this year. In a press release, Governor Desantis said “Florida has become a leader in protecting animals and holding accountable those who harm them. Today, we built on that record with new legislation to strengthen penalties for animal abuse and improve consumer protections for pet owners.”

First there is HB 559 which will:

• Create new felony offenses for adults who cause or encourage minors to participate in aggravated animal cruelty, animal fighting, or sexual abuse involving animals.

• Require juveniles convicted of animal cruelty offenses to undergo psychological evaluation and treatment if necessary.

Next is SB 1004 which strengthens consumer protections involving pet sales by:

• Requiring pet dealers to disclose financing terms before a sale is finalized.

• Requiring pet dealers to provide veterinary medical records documenting examinations, medications, and treatments provided to the animal.

• Make violations enforceable under Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Let’s see what Florida can do next to continue to protect animal victims of abuse!

https://floridianpress.com/2026/05/desantis-signs-legislation-cracking-down-on-animal-cruelty-protections-for-pet-buyers/

DeSantis Signs Legislation Cracking Down on Animal Cruelty, Protections for Pet Buyers Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills aimed at strengthening animal welfare protections and consumer safeguards for pet adoptions during a pres

Everyone knows what a tripod is, but not everyone remembers to bring one to an animal crime scene. A tripod is one of the most valuable photography tools because it stabilizes the camera, helps to reduce motion blur, and allows for the taking of high-quality photographs, especially in low-light conditions. Sometimes the difference between a usable and unusable photograph is a stable camera platform.

This Memorial Day, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and to their families.