< > W382 - National Wildlife Research Center – http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/

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.

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. 

At the Center, we welcome the public, including students, legislators, scientists, agricultural producers, and other interested individuals. We encourage you to ask our employees questions.

Mission and Objectives

• NWRC develops effective wildlife damage management methods through contributions in the following areas:
  
  Damage assessment
• Investigation of the biology and behavior of problem animals
• Evaluation of the impact of management practices on wildlife and the environment
• Development and improvement of present management technologies
• Investigation of potential applications of new management technologies
• Support of registration of chemicals and drugs used to manage wildlife
• Transfer of scientific and technical information
• Provision of scientific guidelines on wildlife damage for use by regulatory agencies
• Development of cooperative research and training with other organizations 
• 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

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:

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.

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. 

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.