United States Department of Agriculture

The National Wildlife Research Center 

(NWRC) functions as the research arm 

of the Wildlife Services program in the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS). Its mission is to apply scientific 

expertise to resolve human-wildlife conflicts 

while maintaining the quality of the 

environment shared with wildlife. 

The NWRC employs about 150 scientists, 

technicians, and support staff to develop 

and evaluate new wildlife damage 

management tools and techniques. More 

than half of its personnel are located 

at its headquarters campus at Colorado 

State University in Fort Collins, CO. The 

remaining personnel are located at several 

field stations across the United States 

and focus on regional wildlife damage 

management issues.

Field Stations

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

National Wildlife Research Center

August 2016

Florida 

The Gainesville, FL, field station is 

located on a 26-acre site near the 

University of Florida. It contains an 

office and laboratory building, an animal 

resource building, roofed outdoor 

aviaries, and a variety of outdoor test 

enclosures and flight pens up to half an 

acre in size. Current research focuses 

on techniques to address depredation 

and nuisance problems caused by 

vultures and methods to reduce the 

impacts of invasive wildlife species, 

such as monk parakeets, feral swine, 

Burmese pythons, spiny-tailed iguanas, 

Argentinian tegus, and Nile monitors.

Hawaii 

The Hilo, HI, field station conducts 

research to reduce the impacts of 

invasive vertebrates on agricultural 

crops, human health and safety, 

and native plants and animals 

Map of NWRC field stations

in Hawaii, Guam, and other U.S. 

islands throughout the Pacific Basin. 

Historically, research has focused on 

invasive rodents affecting sugarcane 

and macadamia nut crops. However, 

during the last few decades, Hawaiian 

agriculture has become much more 

diversified, and several new invasive 

pests have become established. 

In addition to these agricultural 

challenges, the need for animal damage 

control to protect native species in 

conservation areas has increased. As a 

result, the field station has expanded 

its focus to include invasive tree frogs, 

parrots, mongooses, feral swine, and 

brown tree snakes. 

Mississippi 

The Starkville, MS, field station 

specializes in addressing bird predation 

at commercial aquaculture facilities 

and natural fisheries. Scientists study 

the economic impacts of such bird 

predation and how it can be minimized 

or prevented. To better understand what 

conditions and behaviors influence 

predation rates at aquaculture facilities 

and natural water bodies, scientists 

study captive and free-ranging birds, 

such as double-crested cormorants and 

pelicans. Other studies investigate the 

role fish-eating birds play in transmitting 

fish diseases. The field station is located 

on the Mississippi State University 

campus and includes unique facilities 

to house fish-eating birds, study their 

behavior and impact on aquaculture 

systems, and determine their role in 

the life cycle and transmission of fish 

parasites and diseases. 
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

APHIS 11-55-012

North Dakota

The Fargo, ND, field station develops 

new and refined methods to reduce 

the impact of blackbirds and European 

starlings on grain crops—especially 

sunflower and corn—and at feedlots and 

dairies. Current research efforts evaluate 

the use of wildlife repellents; unmanned 

aerial vehicles and other frightening 

devices; and habitat modification, 

including wetland management, wildlife 

conservation food plots, and altered 

agricultural practices. The field station 

is located on the North Dakota State 

University campus.

Ohio 

The Sandusky, OH, field station provides 

research expertise to help reduce 

animal-vehicle collisions, especially 

wildlife strikes with aircraft. Such 

collisions cause hundreds of thousands 

of hours of aircraft downtime and cost 

U.S. civil aviation more than $900 

million every year. Scientists develop 

and evaluate repellents and deterrents 

to keep birds, deer, and other animals 

away from airports and aircraft. They 

also study habitat management 

techniques for minimizing wildlife at 

airports; predict the impacts of wildlife, 

habitat, and land management on 

aviation safety; and explore basic bird 

biology and behavior. The field station 

is located at Plum Brook Station, a 

6,000-acre, fenced facility operated by 

the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration. The contiguous wildlife 

habitat and agricultural land provide 

unique opportunities for wildlife damage 

research. 

Oregon

The Corvallis, OR, field station is located 

at Oregon State University’s College 

of Forestry. NWRC partners with the 

university to conduct research on 

wildlife damage to forest resources. 

Studies range from better understanding 

the behavior of damage-causing animals 

to developing and evaluating tools 

and techniques to reduce damage. 

Subjects include black bears, deer, 

elk, beavers, nutria, and other rodents. 

Many of the field station’s activities also 

have implications for threatened and 

endangered species conservation. 

Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia, PA, field station is 

located at the Monell Chemical Senses 

Center. Monell is the world’s only 

non-profit scientific institute dedicated 

to basic research on taste and smell. 

It provides access to specialized 

research opportunities focused on 

developing nonlethal wildlife repellents 

and attractants. Chemical ecology 

research involving olfactory, taste, and 

chemoreception senses is emphasized.

Utah

The Logan, UT, field station is one of 

the premier predator research facilities 

in the world. The field station includes 

offices on the main campus of Utah 

State University and a large outdoor 

predator research facility in Millville, 

UT. Scientists study the ecology and 

behavior of mammalian carnivores, such 

as coyotes, bears, and wolves, in an 

effort to reduce livestock depredations 

and damage; resolve conflicts in urban 

areas; and mitigate impacts on wildlife 

populations.

An NWRC animal care specialist prepares food for captive animals on site.

Learn More

For more information, please contact:

National Wildlife Research Center

Wildlife Services

APHIS, USDA

4101 LaPorte Avenue

Fort Collins, CO 80521

You may also call NWRC at (970) 266-

6000 or visit our Web site at 

www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlifedamage/nwrc.