Utah Field Station
Scientists at the National Wildlife Research Center Logan, UT, field station are studying the ecology and behavior of predators in an effort to identify new management techniques and strategies, especially nonlethal tools.
Research efforts are directed towards reducing livestock depredations and damage caused by coyotes, bears, and wolves, resolving conflicts in urban areas, and mitigating impacts of predators on wildlife populations. Station research incorporates a variety of techniques that integrate novel engineering approaches and basic knowledge of the biology of predator species.
The station was established in 1972, and operates in close collaboration with Utah State University (USU). In fact, some of the biologists maintain offices on campus. The station's most prominent feature, however, is the Millville Predator Research Facility. The 165-acre site, also on USU land, allows employees to care for up to 100 adult coyotes involved in learning, behavior, and physiology studies. Examples of current and recent studies based at the Millville facility include the following:
- Coyote behavior in captive environments
- Coyote reproduction
- Coyote wariness of humans
- Coyote foraging and learning
- Urban conflicts with black bears
- Coyote movements
- Coyote and elk interactions
- Fladry to prevent wolf depredation
- Conditioning bears from campgrounds
- Wolf damage to livestock.
- Coyote interactions with bobcats, kit fox, and cougars
- Sterilization of coyotes to reduce predation on pronghorn and livestock
- Non-invasive mark-recapture of Mexican wolves
- Coyote food habits and prey fluctuations
International Collaborations
Because of the scientific expertise and facilities available at the Logan, UT, field station, it draws many national and international collaborators to work on a wide variety of predator issues. For example, station researchers have hosted several interns from Agrocampus Rennes, France, advised graduate students working with carnivores in other countries, and sponsored graduate students from the University of Exeter, UK.
Further information on the research conducted at the Logan, UT Field Station can be found on the Developing Control Methods, Evaluating Impacts, and Applying Ecology, Behavior, Genetics, and Demographics to Manage Predators Research Project page.
Contact
Utah Field Station
Dr. Dustin H. Ranglack, Field Station Leader
Predator Ecology and Behavior Project
4200 S 600 E Cache County Road
Millville, UT 84322-5295
PO Box 816
Millville, UT 84326
Dr. Eric M. Gese
Dr. Stewart Breck (Located in Fort Collins, CO)