Field Station Research Staff:
Dr. Eric M. Gese
Dr. Stewart Breck (Located in Fort Collins, CO)
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:
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.