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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Utah Field Station

Last Modified: Jul 20, 2020
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Field Station Leader: Dr. Julie K. Young, 
Research Wildlife Biologist
USDA/APHIS/WS
National Wildlife Research Center
Predator Ecology & Behavior Project
Room 163, BNR Bldg.
Utah State University
Logan, UT 84322-5295
Dr. Julie K. Young
Phone: (435) 797-2505
Fax: (435) 797-0288
Millville Site Phone: (435) 245-6091 ext. 3110
Millville Site Fax: (435) 245-3156


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

Research

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.

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NWRC Field Station Story Map

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