APHIS Factsheet

Wildlife Services December 2006

National Wildlife 

Research Center 

Invasive Species 

Research Building: 

Questions and 

Answers 

Q. What is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) National Wildlife Research Center?

A. The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) is 

the research arm of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Wildlife Services (WS) 

program. As a nonregulatory program, WS provides 

Federal leadership in managing conflicts between 

people and wildlife. NWRC applies scientific expertise 

to the development of technical information and 

practical methods to resolve human-wildlife conflicts 

and maintain the quality of the environments shared 

with wildlife. 

Q. Who benefits from the research conducted at 

NWRC?

A. There are many that benefit: wildlife managers, 

natural resource and agricultural managers, public 

health managers, and the American public and wildlife.

 Wildlife managers and the public benefit from 

NWRC research because it provides information, tools 

and techniques, and a sound, scientific basis on which 

to make management decisions to resolve conflicts 

between people and wildlife.

 Moreover, the American public benefits through 

the protection of agriculture, the management of wildlife diseases that threaten agriculture and/or human 

health, the reduction of aircraft and vehicle collisions 

with wildlife, and the reduction of conflicts where urban 

development has occurred in wildlife habitats.

 Wildlife benefits through the development of 

humane and socially acceptable methods of wildlife 

damage management that reduce human-wildlife 

conflicts.

Q. How many people are employed with NWRC?

A. NWRC headquarters in Fort Collins, CO, currently 

employs about 140 scientists and support personnel.

At any one time, approximately 25 Colorado State 

University students are working, volunteering, or 

interning in various capacities. NWRC satellite field 

stations in 9 other locations employ another 70 people.

Q. Why did APHIS build the NWRC Invasive 

Species Research Building?

A. The Invasive Species Research Building (ISRB) is 

part of the NWRC master plan. The ISRB provides 

a secure environment to properly care for and study 

invasive wildlife species that threaten the Nation’s 

agriculture, natural resources, native wildlife, and 

threatened and endangered species. The facility 

provides a unique opportunity to study the ecology, 

biology, behavior, and physiology of invasive wildlife 

species and to develop management tools and 

strategies for mitigating damage and controlling the 

spread of invasive species. These tools are 

biologically sound, environmentally safe, and socially 

acceptable.

Q. Why is invasive species research important?

A. The number of invasive species in the United 

States is increasing and poses a serious threat to the 

health of native wildlife species and ecosystems.

 In established ecosystems, there is a natural 

balance, and the plants and animals within those 

systems find this balance suitable for survival. When 

invasive species from other ecosystems are

introduced, they can upset that balance and bring 

harm to the established plants and animals, and the 

ecosystem as a whole. Invasive species can reduce 

biodiversity, degrade habitats, alter native genetic 

diversity, transmit exotic diseases to native species, 

and further jeopardize threatened and endangered 

plants and animals. 

 In 1999, Executive Order 13112 took effect, 

requiring the National Invasive Species Council (of 

which USDA is a member) to produce a national 

management plan for invasive species every 2 years. 

This plan calls for leadership and coordination among 

council members, prevention of introductions to the 

United States, early detection and response, control 

and management, provision of restoration, international cooperation, research, and promotion of public 

education and information management. The invasive 

species research conducted by NWRC scientists help 

meet these objectives.
Q. How does Executive Order 13112 define an 

invasive species?

A. The order defines an “invasive species” as a 

species that is:

 1. Nonnative (or alien) to the ecosystem under 

 consideration, and

 2. Whose introduction causes or is likely to 

 cause economic or environmental harm 

 or harm to human health. Invasive species 

 can be plants, animals, and other 

 organisms (e.g., microbes). Human actions 

 are the primary means of invasive 

 species introductions.

Q. What types of research will be conducted in the 

ISRB?

A. NWRC is a leader in invasive vertebrate species 

research and works to develop effective management 

techniques to reduce or eliminate the adverse effects 

of invasive species on native wildlife, habitats, and 

people. NWRC is uniquely positioned to address 

wildlife damage management problems associated 

with invasive species. 

 The ISRB expands NWRC’s capabilities to study 

invasive wildlife species that have the potential to 

or are currently disrupting native ecosystems in the 

United States and its territories. Scientists study the 

ecology, behavior, and basic biology of these species, 

as well as potential control methods such as detection 

methods, lures, repellents, capture devices, toxicants, 

and reproductive inhibitors. Possible species to be 

studied in the facility include nutria, Norway rats, 

mongoose, Gambian giant pouch rats, starlings, 

pigeons, monk parakeets, bullfrogs, brown tree 

snakes, pythons, and Caribbean tree frogs.

 The ISRB has been designed to have the ability 

to simulate temperature and humidity ranges from 

temperate to tropical ecosystems. The flexibility of 

these environmental controls allow for the year-round 

study of invasive wildlife species.

Q. How is animal care ensured?

A. NWRC has a specially trained team of wildlife 

veterinarians and animal care technicians. It is their 

sole responsibility to care for the wildlife housed at the 

center. As a result of the team’s specialized skills in 

working with various types of wildlife, it often serves 

as a significant animal care resource for other Federal 

and State agencies, zoos, and wildlife organizations in 

other countries.

Q. What containment procedures are in place to 

protect the researchers and surrounding 

community?

A. The ISRB includes a level of security sufficient

to prevent the inadvertent release of any invasive 

species. The animal laboratories include redundant 

barriers between the rooms and exterior corridors. 

Official standard operating procedures have been 

developed and are followed to ensure the building 

remains secure.

Q. What other types of measures have been taken 

to keep researchers, the surrounding community, 

and animals safe?

A. A principal priority of the NWRC is safety and 

security of people and animals. All studies require 

protocols that are reviewed and approved by the 

NWRC Animal Care and Use Committee. The 

protocols must address all safety measures prior to 

the beginning of any research study.

 The construction of the ISRB met all applicable 

State and Federal regulations and the safety requirements of all groups that have jurisdiction, including: 

Colorado State University, Larimer County, City of 

Fort Collins, Poudre Fire Authority, and the 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

 Each animal enclosure is designed to maximize 

the humane care and safety of the species it will 

house. All holding equipment is constructed to 

prevent injuries to animals.

Q. Who built the ISRB?

A. A private developer built the ISRB, and it was 

completed in December 2006. The private developer 

financed the construction, and USDA is leasing the 

building for 20 years with options to renew.

Q. Who authorizes the use of animals for 

research?

A. Either State or Federal collection permits are 

required for most animals collected for use in 

research.

Q. Once a study is complete, what becomes of 

the animals?

A. The continued humane care and treatment of the 

animals are paramount to NWRC. Depending upon 

the species and the kind of study, animals may be 

humanely euthanized.

Q. Isn’t there a way to conduct research without 

using animals?

A. New invasive species arrive in the United States 

every year. The best way to find solutions for 

removing or managing invasive species is through 

careful and thorough research. This research needs 

to be conducted with relevant species in an appropriate environment. Solutions to these problems require 

the humane and safe use of animals in research 

activities.
Q. What value does the center add to the Fort 

Collins community and the United States?

A. The specialized field of wildlife damage 

management is becoming increasingly important and 

is one of the more significant issues in society today. 

Wildlife is a publicly-owned resource. Wildlife can 

cause conflicts and transmit diseases to humans, 

pets, and domestic livestock. The ISRB is designed to 

provide a safe, humane, and scientifically sound place 

to conduct wildlife research that is beneficial to wildlife 

managers, disease biologists, health officials, and the 

American public. The research conducted at the ISRB 

will build upon the NWRC’s recognition both nationally 

and internationally as a leader in significant, scientific 

wildlife research.

Q. Who else is involved with invasive species 

research? 

A. NWRC has collaborative relationships with a number 

of Federal and State agencies and academic 

institutions. Examples of a few of our partners include: 

Colorado State University, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service, Central Science 

Laboratory in the United Kingdom, Commonwealth 

Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in 

Australia, and Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research in 

New Zealand. 

Q. How do I obtain more information on NWRC’s 

invasive species research?

A. For more information on the NWRC’s invasive 

species research, please go to

 http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/nwrc on the Web.

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should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice 

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United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture