National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) |
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Welcome
to the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), a major facility within the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's
(APHIS) Wildlife
Services (WS) program. The National Wildlife Research Center is the federal
institution devoted to resolving problems caused by the interaction of wild
animals and society. The Center applies scientific expertise to the development
of practical methods to resolve these problems and to maintain the quality
of the environments shared with wildlife.
NWRC is headquartered on the Foothills Research Campus of Colorado State
University (CSU) in Fort Collins, CO. Approximately two-thirds of NWRC's 150-person
staff is located in Fort Collins; the remainder of the highly specialized
staff are located throughout the United States, and address regional wildlife
damage management issues. Further, NWRC routinely conducts international consultancies
in this specialized area.
NWRC Organizational
Chart
Outdoor
Animal Research Facility
Construction
Update
(Animal Research Building and Invasive Species Research Building) (HTML)
Construction
Update (Downloadable Factsheet, PDF 1,878K)
Close-up
Photo of ISRB
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.
Mission and Objectives
NWRC develops effective wildlife damage management methods
through contributions in the following areas:
- Damage assessment
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Investigation of the biology and behavior of problem
animals
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Evaluation of the impact of management practices on
wildlife and the environment
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Development and improvement of present management technologies
- Investigation of potential applications of new management technologies
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Support of registration of chemicals and drugs used to
manage wildlife
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Transfer of scientific and technical information
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Provision of scientific guidelines on wildlife damage
for use by regulatory agencies
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Development of cooperative research and training with
other organizations
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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's Wildlife Services (WS) program.
NWRC--A
Leader in Nonlethal Wildlife Solutions (Downloadable Factsheet, PDF 1,988K)
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 |
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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.
Research Areas
- Blackbird management in the United States
- Biotechnology and immunocontraceptive vaccines for overabundant
animals
- Predator depredation on domestic animals and threatened and endangered
species
- Ecology of coyote depredation
- Mammal damage to forest resources
- Integrated pest management strategies for rodent damage to crops
and rangeland
- Bird predation at aquaculture facilities
- Registration of chemicals and drugs as management tools
- Taste and olfaction in selected wildlife species for development
of nonlethal chemical repellents for birds and mammals
- Wildlife hazardous to aviation
- Chemical control methods for the brown treesnake on Guam
- Role of wildlife in disease transmission
Cooperative Activities
To extend its capabilities for research and training, the Center establishes
formal or informal cooperative programs with U.S. universities:
- Colorado State University
- Cornell University
- Mississippi State University
- North Dakota State University
- Ohio State University
- Pennsylvania State University
- Queensland (Australia) University of Technology
- Rutgers University
- Texas A&M University--Kingsville
- University of Colorado
- University of Florida
- University of Nebraska
- University of Nevada
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Wisconsin
- University of Wyoming
- Utah State University
International Cooperation
To
facilitate international exchange of information, the Center cooperates
with the U.S. Agency for International Development and other international
organizations. In these cooperative efforts, NWRC scientists develop
and test new techniques of wildlife damage management and transfer
the wildlife damage management technology to scientists and technicians
in host countries. Center scientists develop methods for reducing severe
agricultural damage caused by a variety of rodents, birds, and other
vertebrate pests in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
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Conclusion
NWRC believes in the following:
- 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 National Wildlife Research Center 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.
History of the NWRC
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