Cooperative Research Units
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Established in 1935, our mission is our hallmark: meet the actionable science needs of our cooperators, provide technical assistance, and develop the future workforce through graduate education/mentoring. The Coop Units are located on 40 universities in 38 states. They are called Coop Units because each cooperator plays a role in the staffing, funding and directing the units.
Find out more about CRUsNews
Bird of Courage
When celebrating Thanksgiving with your family this year, remember that the turkey is not just the main course, but, as Benjamin Franklin said, it’s also a noble fowl deeply rooted in American tradition.
New Maps Document Big-Game Migrations Across the Western United States
LARAMIE, Wyo. – For the first time, state and federal wildlife biologists have come together to map the migrations of ungulates – hooved mammals such as mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose and bison – across America’s West. The maps will help land managers and conservationists pinpoint actions necessary to keep migration routes open and functional to sustain healthy big-game populations.
Research to Recover Threatened Waterfowl: USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Supervisor Receives Prestigious U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Champion Award
USGS scientist James “Barry” Grand, Ph.D., has been named a 2016 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Champion (Region 7) for his exemplary long-term research on two formerly threatened species, the spectacled eider and Alaska-breeding Steller’s eiders.
Publications
Movement of synthetic organic compounds in the food web after the introduction of invasive quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis) in Lake Mead, Nevada and Arizona, USA
Introductions of dreissenid mussels in North America have been a significant concern over the last few decades. This study assessed the distribution of synthetic organic compounds (SOCs) in the food web of Lake Mead, Nevada/Arizona, USA and how this distribution was influenced by the introduction of invasive quagga mussels. A clear spatial...
Goodbred, Steven L.; Rosen, Michael R.; Patino, Reynaldo; Alvarez, David; Echols, Kathy R.; King, Kerensa; Umek, John Why let the dogs out? Exploring variables associated with dog confinement and general characteristics of the free-ranging owned-dog population in a peri-urban area
Free-ranging dogs (FRDs), are a problem in several countries, with impacts on humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, although increasing evidence suggests that most FRDs are owned. Therefore, understanding dog ownership on a fine scale is critical. The main objectives of this study were to explore dog management in rural localities from central...
Astorga, Francisca; Poo-Muñoz, Daniela Alejandra; Organ, John F.; Medina-Vogel, Gonzalo Bidirectional connectivity via fish ladders in a large Neotropical river: Response to a comment
In a recent article, we described fitting electronic tags to the fish Prochilodus lineatus to document how a fishway connected aquatic habitats downstream and upstream of a major dam. Moreover, given that tagged fish remained upstream or downstream for periods extending months and years before returning to the fishway, and that observed...
Celestino, L.F.; Sanz-Ronda, F.J.; Miranda, Leandro E.; Makrakis, M.C.; Pinheiro Dias, J.H.; Makrakis, S.The CRU program remains very productive and maintains a very bright future. One of the things contributing to that bright future is a $5.6 million increase in our most recent Congressional appropriations. This amount will help us meet longstanding programmatic needs, such as filling all the vacancies in our scientific workforce and providing much-needed upgrades to our research equipment.
CRU Science
Species Status Assessments to Support Endangered Species Decision Making
The USGS Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the USGS Leetown Science Center are partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to re-envision the way science supports endangered species decision making. The USFWS is required under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) to consider the health of species at risk of extinction.
Culturally Important Fishponds in Hawaii
Researchers at the Hawai’i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit (HCFRU), working in collaboration with the Hawai’i Division of Aquatic Resources, Kamehameha Schools, and the Edith Kanaka’ole Foundation, investigated how the species composition of fish assemblages in actively managed and inactive fishponds differed from...
Improving Insights for Recreational Fishery at the Mouth of the Columbia River
The USGS Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (ORCFWRU) at Oregon State University (OSU) is partnering with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to evaluate alternative management actions for a high-value, mixed-stock recreational fishery on fall-run Chinook salmon at the mouth of the Columbia River. Image: USGS Oregon Water Science Center research vessel....
Beavers in the Desert? The Potential for Translocated Beavers to Serve as Restoration Tools in Desert Rivers
The USGS Utah Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Utah State University (USU) is evaluating the efficacy of beaver translocation for desert river restoration by comparing the fates, space use, and dam building activity of naturally occurring and translocated beavers in the Price and San Rafael...
Incorporating “Big Hairy Audacious Goals” into Natural Resource Research, Management, and Conservation
Kansas is the home to a diverse aquatic community. However, many fish have been designated as species in need of conservation because of land use change, water alterations, and other human impacts. The Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (Kansas Unit) at Kansas State University is leading research on "big...
Managing Young Forest Wildlife Habitats in Rights-of-Way Landscapes
The West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is developing management strategies that may help to increase young forest habitat availability and conserve priority young forest species in the central Appalachian region.
Collaborating for Conservation: Coming Together to Conserve the Topeka Shiner
he U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (Unit) is leading research on Topeka shiner, a species listed in 1998 under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) due to loss of critical habitat and subsequent population declines. The focus of this research is on population size and geographic distribution, and Topeka shiner food and habitat requirements.
Fish and Climate Change Database (FiCli) Provides Freshwater Fisheries Managers With an Important Climate Adaptation Tool
Inland fishes are important to communities worldwide and provide many ecosystem services, such as recreational opportunities, subsistence fishing, and commercial income. To support climate adaptation for fisheries management across the globe, the USGS Alaska, Missouri, and North Carolina Cooperative Research Units are developing an interactive database, ...
Engaging Hunters in Selecting Duck Season Dates Using Decision Science
The USGS New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) have been working together on a decision making process for setting duck season dates in New York.
Citizen Science Helps to Inform Ornamental Fishery Decisions in Hawaii
The commercial collection of marine ornamental fishes from coral reefs for the aquarium trade is one of the most controversial fisheries in Hawai'i. Most of the controversy relates to whether the fishery is being managed sustainably. The Hawai'i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit is assessing the impact of the marine...
New Habitat Suitability Maps for At-Risk Herpetofauna Species in the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem
Five at-risk species of herpetofauna – the gopher tortoise, gopher frog, striped newt, southern hognose snake, and Florida pine snake – have been petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and are the subjects of conservation planning efforts of federal, state, and other partners in the Southeast.
Oxbow Restoration in Iowa with an Emphasis on Topeka Shiner
The Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is leading research on two projects focusing on oxbow restorations and the federally endangered Topeka shiner. These projects have provided insight into the habitat preferences and fish assemblage associations of Topeka shiner in oxbows, compared the occurrence and abundance of the species in restored and unrestored oxbows.
The Cooperative Research Units Program conducts research on a wide range of disciplines related to fish, wildlife, and natural resource management. Our 40 Units collectively conduct research on virtually every type of North American ecological community.
Data and Tools Technical Publications
Average well color development data for water samples from six locations within the historic section of Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
Water samples were collected from six cave locations where Actinobacterial mats appeared to be plentiful. Community-level physiological capabilities were evaluated using Biolog-Ecolog plates inoculated with cave water dosed with 0 or 0.10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of erythromycin. The data were transformed into average well color development (AWCD).
Fish and Climate Change Database (FiCli)
Inland fishes are important to communities worldwide and provide many ecosystem services, such as recreational opportunities, subsistence fishing, and commercial income. To support climate adaptation for fisheries management across the globe, the USGS Alaska, Missouri, and North Carolina Cooperative Research Units developed an interactive database, ...
Average well color development data for water samples from six locations within the historic section of Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
Water samples were collected from six cave locations where Actinobacterial mats appeared to be plentiful. Community-level physiological capabilities were evaluated using Biolog-Ecolog plates inoculated with cave water dosed with 0 or 0.10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of erythromycin. The data were transformed into average well color development (AWCD). The transformation is done by subtr
Routes of Mule Deer in the Ruby Mountains, Nevada
The Area 10 mule deer population is one of the largest deer herds in the state, accounting for roughly 20 percent of the statewide mule deer population. The Area 10 herd is comprised of several sub populations that occupy the majority of the Ruby Mountains, are highly migratory,and exhibit long distance migrations from summer to winter ranges. Several key stopovers occur within the migratio...
Wyoming Game and Fish Department Designated Migration Corridor of mule deer in the Sublette Herd, Wyoming
The Sublette Herd Corridor was designated by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in 2016. The Sublette Herd supports an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 animals, and the corridors represent movements from three subpopulations, including the Ryegrass, Mesa, and Red Desert segments. Deer from the Ryegrass winter west of the Green River and migrate northwest into portions of the Wyoming Range
Migration Stopovers of Mule Deer in the Kaibab North Herd in Arizona
Mule deer of the Kaibab North herd on the Kaibab Plateau are treasured for their historic and contemporary significance in North America. They are the densest population of mule deer in Arizona, with an estimate of 10,200 individuals in 2019. This report compiles two research efforts, the first completed by Arizona Game and Fish Department in 2014, and the second from Utah Division of Wil
Migration Routes of Mule Deer in the Paunsaugunt Plateau Herd in Utah
The Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah is home to a prolific mule deer herd numbering around 5,200 individuals in 2019. In early October, these mule deer begin their migration from the Plateau traveling south distances up to 78 miles to winter range in the Buckskin Mountains near the Utah-Arizona border. Approximately 20-30% of the Paunsaugunt Plateau herd reside in northern Arizona durin...
Migration Routes of Mule Deer in Platte Valley North Population in Wyoming
Mule deer in the Platte Valley North population are part of the larger Platte Valley herd unit with an estimated population of 11,000 animals (fig. 28). These mule deer winter in the sagebrush canyons and basins near the Platte River north of Saratoga, Wyoming. Other segments of this population winter in the Chokecherry Knob area, south of Sinclair, and the Dana Ridge area just north
Migration Routes of Moose in the Pinedale Herd in Wyoming
The Sublette herd is the largest moose population in Wyoming, numbering approximately 1,800 individuals. This herd winters among the willow-dominated floodplains of the Green River Basin, primarily the eastern foothills of the Wyoming Range; some animals winter also in the Hoback Basin. As a partially migratory population, approximately half of the moose are resident, while migratory
Migration Stopovers of Mule Deer in the San Francisco Peaks Herd in Arizona
In 2008, 13 mule deer were GPS collared near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to understand the impact of Arizona’s State Route 64 on mule deer movement. Unexpectedly, 4 individuals migrated over 50 miles to summer range near the San Francisco Peaks, north of Flagstaff, containing alpine, subalpine, and ponderosa pine habitats. The GPS collars dropped in 2009, but questions
Winter ranges of mule deer in the South Tuscarora Mountains, Nevada
Mule deer in the South Tuscarora herd are part of the larger “Area 6” deer population that reside in the southern and eastern portion of this big game Management Area (MA 6). The winter range for this sub population is located along the western slopes of the Tuscarora Mountains and the Dunphy Hills. The spring migration route for this deer herd traverses north along the toe
Migration Routes of Mule Deer in the Wyoming Range North Population in Wyoming
Mule deer in the northern Wyoming Range population use winter ranges in the area between Big Piney and LaBarge. During spring, these deer generally move northwesterly to high-elevation summer ranges in the Salt River and Wyoming Ranges. Interchange with deer in the Sublette herd unit has been documented, with some individuals migrating northwest into Upper Green River drainages. At least one...
USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units: 2017 Year In Review
In September 1960, the 86th Congress passed Public Law 86-686 to facilitate cooperation between the Federal government, colleges and universities, the States, and private organizations for Cooperative Unit Programs of research and education relating to fish and wildlife, and for other purposes. The Cooperative Research Units originated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the mid 1930s
2016 Cooperative Research Unit Story Map
In this Year in Review report, you will find details on staffing, vacancies, research funding, and other pertinent information. You will also see snapshots of Unit projects with information on how results have been or are being applied by cooperators. That is the essence of what we do: science that matter.
2015 Cooperative Research Units Story Map
The Cooperative Research Unit mission is our hallmark: meeting the actionable science needs of our cooperators, providing them technical guidance and assistance in interpreting and applying new advances in science, and developing the future workforce through graduate education and mentoring.
Movement of synthetic organic compounds in the food web after the introduction of invasive quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis) in Lake Mead, Nevada and Arizona, USA
Introductions of dreissenid mussels in North America have been a significant concern over the last few decades. This study assessed the distribution of synthetic organic compounds (SOCs) in the food web of Lake Mead, Nevada/Arizona, USA and how this distribution was influenced by the introduction of invasive quagga mussels. A clear spatial...
Goodbred, Steven L.; Rosen, Michael R.; Patino, Reynaldo; Alvarez, David; Echols, Kathy R.; King, Kerensa; Umek, John Why let the dogs out? Exploring variables associated with dog confinement and general characteristics of the free-ranging owned-dog population in a peri-urban area
Free-ranging dogs (FRDs), are a problem in several countries, with impacts on humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, although increasing evidence suggests that most FRDs are owned. Therefore, understanding dog ownership on a fine scale is critical. The main objectives of this study were to explore dog management in rural localities from central...
Astorga, Francisca; Poo-Muñoz, Daniela Alejandra; Organ, John F.; Medina-Vogel, Gonzalo Bidirectional connectivity via fish ladders in a large Neotropical river: Response to a comment
In a recent article, we described fitting electronic tags to the fish Prochilodus lineatus to document how a fishway connected aquatic habitats downstream and upstream of a major dam. Moreover, given that tagged fish remained upstream or downstream for periods extending months and years before returning to the fishway, and that observed...
Celestino, L.F.; Sanz-Ronda, F.J.; Miranda, Leandro E.; Makrakis, M.C.; Pinheiro Dias, J.H.; Makrakis, S. Decision implementation and the double-loop process in adaptive management of horseshoe crab harvest in Delaware Bay
No abstract available.
McGowan, Conor P.; Smith, David; Lyons, James E.
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2019 year in review
Acting Chief’s MessageDear Cooperators:Members of the Cooperative Research Units are pleased to provide you with the “2019 Year in Review” report for the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units (CRUs). You will first note that this report looks a little different than those published in the past few years, as we opted for a shorter, more...
Thompson, John D.; Dennerline, Donald E.; Childs, Dawn E.
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units program—2019 year in review postcard
Acting Chief’s MessageDear friends,I invite you to take a look at U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1463, “Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program—2019 Year in Review,” now available at https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1463. In this report, you will find details about the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units (CRU) program concerning...
Thompson, John D.; Dennerline, Donald E.; Childs, Dawn E. Non-crop habitat use by wild bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) in a mixed-use agricultural landscape
Homogeneous, agriculturally intense landscapes have abundant records of pollinator community research, though similar studies in the forest-dominated, heterogeneous mixed-use landscape that dominates the northeastern United States are sparse. Trends of landscape effects on wild bees are consistent across homogeneous agricultural landscapes,...
Du Clos, Brianne; Loftin, Cyndy; Drummond, Francis A. Longitudinal distribution of uncommon fishes in a species-rich basin
The spatial organization of fishes in a river system was investigated to evaluate the longitudinal distribution of uncommon species. It was anticipated that overall richness of the fish community would increase in a downstream direction together with habitat extent, but that more uncommon species would occur upstream owing to greater heterogeneity...
Miranda, Leandro E.; Killgore, K.J. Biotic interactions help explain variation in elevational range limits of birds among Bornean mountains
AimPhysiological tolerances and biotic interactions along habitat gradients are thought to influence species occurrence. Distributional differences caused by such forces are particularly noticeable on tropical mountains, where high species turnover along elevational gradients occurs over relatively short distances and elevational distributions of...
Burner, Ryan C.; Boyce, Andy J.; Bernasconi, David; Styring, Alison R.; Shakya, Subir B.; Boer, Chandradewana; Rahman, Mustafa Abdul; Martin, Thomas E.; Sheldon, Frederick H. Coldwater periods in warmwater streams: Microhabitat shifts from autumn to winter by Smallmouth Bass
Seasonal and life stage variation in microhabitat use is an important driver of fish survival and bioenergetics, but knowledge of microhabitat selection during colder periods is generally lacking in warmwater streams. Our objective was to examine changes in microhabitat selection by age‐0 (TL ≤ 85 mm) and age‐1+ (TL > ...
Wolf, S.L.; Mollenhauer, R.; Brewer, Shannon K. Latitudinal variation in snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) body mass: A test of Bergmann’s Rule
The relationship between body size and latitude have been the focus of dozens of studies across many species. However, results of testing Bergmann’s Rule – that organisms in colder climates or at higher latitudes possess larger body sizes – have been inconsistent across studies. We investigated whether snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) follow the...
Gigliotti, Laura C. ; Berg, Nathan D. ; Boonstra, Rudy ; Cleveland, Shawn M.; Diefenbach, Duane R.; Gese, Eric M. ; Ivan, Jacob S. ; Kielland, Knut; Krebs, Charles J. ; Kumar, Alexander V. ; Mills, L. Scott; Pauli, Jonathan N.; Underwood, H. Brian; Wilson, Evan; Sheriff, M.J. Vulnerability of resource-users in Louisiana’s oyster fishery to environmental hazards
Knowledge of vulnerability provides the foundation for developing actions that minimize impacts on people while maximizing the sustainability of ecosystem goods and services. As a result, it is becoming increasingly important to determine how resource-dependent people are vulnerable to environmental hazards. This is particularly true in coastal...
Humphries, A. T.; Josephs, L.; LaPeyre, Megan K.; Hall, S. A.; Beech, R.D.Unit scientists routinely develop programs and applications to be used by State and Federal natural resource managers to conduct data analyses to inform decision making.
Wildlife Software and Models
A suite of software tools and models developed by Colorado State University and the USGS Colorado Cooperative Fish And Wildlife Research Unit.
monitoR: Acoustic template detection in R
Tools for automated acoustic monitoring of nature.
R for Fisheries and Wildlife Applications
FW599: An introduction to data management and R for Fisheries and Wildlife applications--- a lighthearted look
InVEST: 18 different models for ecosystem services
The InVEST tool allows researchers to evaluate relationships between land management actions and wild bee populations.
Under the guidelines of the Cooperative Research Agreement, CRU is required to communicate with funders, cooperators, stakeholders, and the public. CRU maintains outreach pathways and participation among state, federal, university, and private researchers.
Productivity of Black Oystercatchers in Southwest Alaska
The black oystercatcher, a keystone species in nearshore ecosystems, plays an important role in structuring nearshore systems and is highly susceptible to human disturbance. Current inventory and monitoring efforts may not adequately address the information needs for estimating long-term trends for this species. To address these issues, the goal of this research is to
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Standard Fish Sampling Techniques
Examining environmental deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA) in water samples has demonstrated promise for identifying fish species present in water bodies. However, whether or not this same approach can be used to assess relative abundance, biomass, and species composition in large (greater than [>] 200-hectare) waterbodies is unclear. This research compared
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Discover Ecosystems
Ecosystems and the wild things that live in them are the foundation of our conservation heritage and an economic asset to current and future generations of Americans. Healthy ecosystems support living things and natural processes that bring prosperity and enjoyment for all Americans.
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$58.1 BILLION
Estimated economic output of DOI-
An exploration of the direct and indirect effects of climatic warming
Arctic lakes support trophic interactions, biological processes, and critical habitat at all trophic levels; however, climatic warming threatens to alter the structure and function of aquatic communities and overall system production. Arctic ecosystems are warming at some of the fastest rates observed on Earth, and arctic lakes are experiencing more frequent years of
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Adaptive Management and Monitoring of Pyramid Lake, Nevada UT
Pyramid Lake, Nevada, is one of the last remaining strongholds for lacustrine Lahontan cutthroat trout; almost all other large lake populations have undergone population declines or extirpation as a result of habitat degradation, overharvest, and water diversions, all compounded by the stocking of nonnative species. The population depends almost entirely on stocking
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Chronic wasting disease is an infectious disease
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. Once an animal is infected, CWD typically causes neurological
...
Chronic wasting disease is an infectious disease
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. Once an animal is infected, CWD typically causes neurological
...
Chronic wasting disease is an infectious disease
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. Once an animal is infected, CWD typically causes neurological
...
Chronic wasting disease is an infectious disease
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. Once an animal is infected, CWD typically causes neurological
...
Chronic wasting disease is an infectious disease
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”). Affected animals include deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. Once an animal is infected, CWD typically causes neurological
...
White-tailed deer
Distribution map: distribution of chronic wasting disease in North America
Chronic wasting disease may have long-term negative effects on white-tailed deer, a highly visible and economically valuable keystone species, according to a
...
Assessing the impact of nutrient enrichment in Utah
Rivers in the western U.S. rivers are experiencing changes in nutrient loading because of rapid urban development, but the effects of changing nutrient loading on the structure and function of stream ecosystems, especially fish habitat, are not fully understood. The Henry’s Fork of the Snake River in east Idaho is a wide, shallow, clear, spring-fed river whose fish habitat
...
Bird of Courage
When celebrating Thanksgiving with your family this year, remember that the turkey is not just the main course, but, as Benjamin Franklin said, it’s also a noble fowl deeply rooted in American tradition.
New Maps Document Big-Game Migrations Across the Western United States
LARAMIE, Wyo. – For the first time, state and federal wildlife biologists have come together to map the migrations of ungulates – hooved mammals such as mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose and bison – across America’s West. The maps will help land managers and conservationists pinpoint actions necessary to keep migration routes open and functional to sustain healthy big-game populations.
Research to Recover Threatened Waterfowl: USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Supervisor Receives Prestigious U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Champion Award
USGS scientist James “Barry” Grand, Ph.D., has been named a 2016 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Champion (Region 7) for his exemplary long-term research on two formerly threatened species, the spectacled eider and Alaska-breeding Steller’s eiders.
Migrating mule deer track “green waves” of spring forage: study highlights importance of habitat corridors for migrating game and other species
Migratory mule deer in Wyoming closely time their movements to track the spring green-up, providing evidence of an underappreciated foraging benefit of migration, according to a study by University of Wyoming and U.S. Geological Survey scientists at the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.
A Grand Slam for Students, Schools and Science
"It’s a grand slam for all involved,” said Dawn Childs, USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units. “Recent high school graduates with special needs get real-world experience while helping USGS scientists on projects ranging from grizzly bears and energy to historic documents and bird migration. And a school system gets to successfully train students to enter the workforce."
Wild Turkey Talk
A group of turkeys is referred to as either a rafter or a gang. So this Thanksgiving, when celebrating with your own gang, remember the turkey as more than just the main course, but, as Benjamin Franklin said so many years ago, as a noble fowl of American tradition.
Hot off the Press! Great Balls of Fire!
The USGS Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in partnership with the Nebraska Intelligent MoBile Unmanned Systems Lab (NIMBUS) and the Applied Complex Adaptive Systems Lab have designed a drone prototype that drops balls filled with combustible material that ignites fire as part of prescribed fire management.
Happy Mother’s Day to Moms of All Species
USGS wishes to honor all mothers, of all species. Many of our research findings have and are shedding light on the lives of non-human moms.
Shorebirds Ignore Aircraft, But Pay Attention to People, Off-road Vehicles
The American oystercatchers studied on Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina were disturbed more by pedestrians and off-road vehicles passing their nests than the U.S. military aircraft flying overhead.
Continued Decline of the Northern Spotted Owl Associated with the Invasive Barred Owl, Habitat Loss, and Climate Variation
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Northern spotted owl populations are declining in all parts of their range in the Pacific Northwest, according to research published in The Condor. Based on data from 11 study areas across Washington, Oregon and northern California, a rangewide decline of nearly 4 percent per year was estimated from 1985 to 2013.
Endangered Flying Squirrel Relegated to Living on Sky-Islands
Habitat loss has fragmented the population of the Carolina northern flying squirrel, an endangered species now living on “sky-islands” on nine isolated mountain peaks in the southern Appalachians.
Wildlife Researchers to Give Public Close-Up, Real-Time View of Big Game Fieldwork
LARAMIE, WY — Seeking insights to help moose, elk, mule deer and bighorn sheep populations, researchers from the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the U.S. Geological Survey and other partners will spend much of March capturing animals on their winter ranges in western and southern Wyoming.
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Locations
Cooperative Research Units Program Headquarters
Phone: (703) 648 - 4260
Fax: (703) 648 - 4269
Contacts
The cooperative nature of the CRU Program provides the workforce with a familiarity with the needs and policies of State and Federal science and management agencies. The success of this approach is evident in that CRU students have gone on to hold important leadership positions in nearly every State and Federal conservation agency.
Cooperators