About the National Wildlife Research Center
Welcome to the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), a major facility within APHIS' Wildlife Services program. NWRC is the Federal institution devoted to resolving problems caused by the interaction of wild animals and society. The Center applies scientific expertise to develop practical methods to resolve these problems and maintain the quality of the environments shared with wildlife.
NWRC is headquartered on the Foothills Research Campus of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. Approximately two-thirds of NWRC's staff is located in Fort Collins. The rest of our highly specialized staff are located throughout the United States and address regional wildlife damage management issues. NWRC routinely conducts international consultancies in this specialized area.
The Problem and the Solution
No wild animal is undesirable. Yet almost any wild animal can cause damage to crops, natural resources, or property, or become a threat to human safety.
- Deer and smaller mammals can consume newly planted tree seedlings and other crops.
- Birds in large, high-density flocks can decimate grain and sunflower fields.
- Predators attack livestock and other domestic animals.
- Wild animals can spread diseases such as lyme disease, rabies, plague, and histoplasmosis.
The Center evaluates damage situations and develops methods and tools to reduce or eliminate damage and resolve land-use conflicts. NWRC scientists study birds, mammalian predators, rodents, and other wildlife that cause serious but localized damage problems. The Center designs studies to ensure that the methods developed to alleviate animal damage are biologically sound, effective, safe, economical, and acceptable to the public. NWRC scientists produce the appropriate methods, technology, and materials for reducing animal damage. Through the publication of results and the exchange of technical information, the Center provides valuable data and expertise to the public and the scientific community, as well as to APHIS's Wildlife Services program.
At NWRC, we believe in:
- Being responsive to the concerns and values of the public
- Providing valid, objective information of the highest quality
- Promoting the welfare of animals and the quality of the environment
- Encouraging employees' high morale and growth and development
- Maintaining a quality work environment
- Providing equal opportunity for employment and advancement
Studies conducted at the NWRC will continue to provide new information needed to protect American agriculture from wildlife-related problems. These studies will help America manage its wildlife resources wisely and effectively into the future.
NWRC develops effective wildlife damage management methods through contributions in the following areas:
- Damage assessment
- Investigation of the biology and behavior of problem animals
- Evaluation of the impact of management practices on wildlife and the environment
- Development and improvement of present management technologies
- Investigation of potential applications of new management technologies
- Support of registration of chemicals and drugs used to manage wildlife
- Transfer of scientific and technical information
- Provision of scientific guidelines on wildlife damage for use by regulatory agencies
- Development of cooperative research and training with other organizations
- Responsiveness to needs of user groups and the public.
The Center evaluates damage situations and develops methods and tools to reduce or eliminate damage and resolve land-use conflicts. NWRC scientists study birds, mammalian predators, rodents, and other wildlife that cause serious but localized damage problems. The Center designs studies to ensure that the methods developed to alleviate animal damage are biologically sound, effective, safe, economical, and acceptable to the public. NWRC scientists produce the appropriate methods, technology, and materials for reducing animal damage. Through the publication of results and the exchange of technical information, the Center provides valuable data and expertise to the public and the scientific community, as well as to APHIS' Wildlife Services (WS) program.
The Center employs more than 160 scientists, technicians, and support personnel at its Fort Collins, CO, headquarters and at field stations in several other states. Scientific and support staff, all focused on particular wildlife damage issues, specialize in the following disciplines:
- Animal behavior/psychology
- Animal care
- Archives management
- Chemistry
- Computer science
- Ecology
- Economics
- Electronics
- Genetics
- Immunology
- Information Transfer
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Quality assurance
- Statistics
- Toxicology
- Veterinary medicine
- Wildlife biology
- Wildlife disease
- Zoology
The Center relies on the services of people with additional specialties through cooperative ties with universities, not-for-profit research facilities, and other public and private research entities.
The Center relies on the services of people with additional scientific specialties through extensive cooperative ties with universities, not-for-profit research organizations, and other public and private research entities. The NWRC has achieved an integrated, multidisciplinary research agenda that is uniquely suited to provide scientific information and solutions to wildlife damage problems.
NWRC Research
NWRC research is organized under four broad categories:
- Agriculture and Resource Protection—Focuses on reducing wildlife damage to crops, aquaculture, timber resources, natural resources, livestock, and property; examines the ecology, behavior, and management of birds and mammals; and develops methods to mitigate wildlife-aviation strike hazards.
- Invasive Species—Develops methods for reducing damage by invasive vertebrate species to native wildlife and ecosystems.
- Wildlife Disease—Explores ways to reduce the spread and transmission of disease agents from wildlife to humans and domestic animals; develops disease diagnostic methods; develops methods and strategies to monitor wildlife pathogens and prevent and control wildlife diseases; assesses risks to agriculture and human health and safety; and assists Wildlife Services operations with surveillance and monitoring.
- Technology Development—Promotes technological development in areas related to pesticide registration, formulation chemistry, chemical analysis, benefit-cost analysis, and wildlife contraceptives.