• Wildlife Damage
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• National Wildlife Research Center
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• NWRC About

NWRC - About

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.

• Mission and Objectives
• Staff Expertise
• Cooperative Activities

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.

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 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.