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FAQ

If I have a damage problem who do I call?

Contact your local Department of Natural Resources office first. They may be able to help you with the problem or refer you to the Wildlife Services office in your state.

What types of questions do wildlife damage managers receive?

How do I find Cooperative Extension information?

Look at the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service website or look in the telephone book under USDA Cooperative Extension. Most land-grant universities like Colorado State University have an Extension office and information resource center.

What is AgNIC?

The Agriculture Network Information Center (AgNIC) is a voluntary partnership of libraries and land-grant institutions, Cooperative Extension, and state and federal research groups to provide access to selected, quality agricultural information. The results of these partnerships are rich collections of essential information and services offered to users around the globe. The collaboration and contributions of the partners allow the institutions to meet local, national, and international needs in a cost-effective manner. To learn more about AgNIC and find other subject sites go to http://laurel.nal.usda.gov:8080/agnic.

What is Colorado State University?

Colorado State University is a land-grant institution established in 1870, when the institution was founded as the Agricultural College of Colorado. The school first opened its doors to students in 1879 with President Elijah Edwards and two faculty members. From these humble origins, a world-class institution grew. Today, Colorado State University has more than 24,000 students and is a Carnegie Class I research institution with annual research expenditures topping $138 million. The university has approximately 1,400 faculty in eight colleges and 55 academic departments and boasts more than 116,000 living alumni. From its internationally known programs in veterinary medicine and chemistry to its recognition as an institution committed to character building, CSU's academic and co-curricular programs are recognized for their quality, innovation and achievement. For more information about CSU visit their website at http://www.colostate.edu.

What is Wildlife Services?

Wildlife Services (WS), a program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, provides Federal leadership and expertise to resolve these conflicts and create a balance that allows people and wildlife to coexist peacefully. With incidents of wildlife damage on the rise, WS' knowledge and skills are constantly in demand.

In the last decade, WS' mission has expanded beyond agricultural damage management to include minimizing wildlife threats to public health and safety, resolving wildlife conflicts in urban areas, protecting private and industrial property, protecting threatened and endangered species, and preserving natural resources. In the 21st Century, WS stands ready to respond to new biosecurity challenges that could impact wildlife populations threatening both public health and our Nation's vital livestock industry.

WS' success in the field is only possible, however, through research and the development of new tools and techniques to manage wildlife damage. For more information on WS go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws.

What is the National Wildlife Research Center?

The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services Program. NWRC research is 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. The headquarters is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, on the Colorado State University Foothills Campus. At NWRC and at field stations in 8 States, a staff of over 180 employees specializes in wildlife biology, chemistry, animal behavior, physiology, biological and physical science technology, statistics, computer programming, electronic engineering, information science, records management and support functions. Field station personnel address regional wildlife damage management issues and consult, nationally and internationally, in their specialized areas of research . To learn more about the NWRC and its programs visit the website http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/nwrc.

How do I request documents from NWRC?

NWRC reprints from 1997 to the present are available full-text on the Center's website under publications at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/nwrc/is/publications.html. You can also contact the library directly at 970-266-6017 or by email at nwrc@aphis.usda.gov.

Do you have any wildlife damage photos I can use?

A photo gallery of damage images is available on this website. All of these are USDA photos and may be used free of charge. Please credit each image with "USDA photo." NWRC may have images on other topics not shown in the photo gallery which can be requested through the Archives at 970-266-6023.

What kind of jobs are available in WS?

• Wildlife Specialists are assigned to specific projects to ensure that control methods are being used correctly and to record the effect a particular method has on reducing or preventing damage. These specialists conduct operational duties, including the trapping and relocation of birds and mammals that cause damage to agriculture, natural resources, or property.
• Wildlife Biologists are responsible for the dissemination and/or implementation of proven or newly developed methods of reducing wildlife damage. They may also work on developing management plans to increase the success rate of any given technique. For example, wildlife biologists in Nebraska help protect the endangered interior least tern and the three-lined piping plover while biologists in Ohio, Texas, and Vermont help stop the spread of rabies in wildlife.
• Wildlife Biologists (Research) work to develop or improve methods of reducing damage caused by wildlife species in a wide variety of damage situations. These specialists conduct experiments on such wide-ranging subjects as the effectiveness of wildlife contraception delivered by vaccination and the use of repellents, electronic trap-monitoring devices, and habitat modification to control wildlife damage.
• Other positions in both professional and support areas include chemistry, GIS, veterinary science, animal care, information science, computer programming and statistics.