NWRC Research Scientists: Dr. Scott J. Werner

Last Modified: March 11, 2024

Dr. Scott Werner is a Research Wildlife Biologist at the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) in Fort Collins, Colorado. 

He earned a Ph.D. in Range Science (Animal Behavior) at Utah State University where he studied the behavior and thermal ecology of pocket gophers associated with impacts to forest production in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. After a postdoctoral appointment with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Dr. Werner served as the Project Leader at NWRC’s Field Station in Starkville, Mississippi, where he researched bird-aquaculture conflicts. He has been at the Fort Collins headquarters of NWRC since 2002.

Dr. Werner’s research interests include the physiological bases of food and habitat selection, and the development of non-lethal repellents for wildlife damage management.

The NWRC Repellents Research Project is focused on developing information and methods relevant to managing wildlife damage and the human-wildlife conflicts associated with U.S. plant and animal agriculture.

Current Research

  • Evaluation and development of chemical repellents for wild birds and wild mammals
  • Applications of sensory ecology for wildlife damage management
  • Wildlife repellents for newly-planted and ripening agricultural crops
  • Wildlife repellents for airport applications and aviation safety

Education

  • Ph.D., Range Science (Animal Behavior), 'Behavioral analysis of pocket gopher spatial preference: effects of thermal and light environments', Utah State University
  • M.S., Range Science, 'Elk herbivory within rested units of rest-rotation grazing systems in southcentral Utah', Utah State University
  • B.S., Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Minor - Forestry Science, Penn State University

Contact

Scott Werner

Project Leader

National Wildlife Research Center

4101 LaPorte Ave.

Fort Collins, CO 80521