National Wildlife Research Center 



The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) is a 

 world leader in providing science-based solutions 

 to complex issues of wildlife damage management. 

 As the research arm of the Wildlife Services (WS) 

 program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 

 (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 

 NWRC works with WS operational staff to provide 

 Federal leadership and expertise to resolve wildlife 

 conflicts related to aghculture, livestock, human 

 health and safety (including wildlife diseases), 

 invasive species, and threatened and endangered 

 species. NWRC is committed to finding nonlethal 

 solutions to reduce wildlife damage to agricultural 

 crops, aquaculture, and natural resources. As part 

 of WS' strategic plan to improve the coexistence 

 of people and wildlife, NWRC has identified four 

 strategic program goals: (1) developing methods, 

 (2) providing wildlife services, (3) valuing and 

 investing in people, and (4) enhancing information 

 and communication. WS is dedicated to helping 

 meet the wildlife-damage management needs of the 

 United States by building on NWRC's strengths in 

 these four key areas. This annual research highlights 

 report is structured around these program goals. 



Expertise 



NWRC employs more than 160 scientists, 

 technicians, and support personnel at its Fort 

 Collins, CO, headquarters and at field stations 

 in several other States. NWRC scientists have 

 expertise in a wide range of disciplines, including 

 animal behavior, wildlife biology, wildlife sensory 

 biology, epidemiology, chemistry, wildlife diseases, 

 immunology, reproductive physiology, statistics, 

 toxicology, wildlife genetic forensics, and veterinary 

 medicine. 



In August 2007, NWRC realigned its organizational 

 structure and related project-management system 

 to better address WS program, agency, and 

 departmental priorities. This new project alignment 



permits NWRC to continue to effectively address 

 both the current and rapidly emerging new priorities 

 of APHIS, the WS program, and the Center in the 

 area of human-wildlife conflict mitigation. 



Although agricultural and plant health are still 

 highlighted in the vision and goals of the new APHIS 

 Strategic Plan for 2007-12, they also encourage a 

 stronger emphasis on invasive species; emerging 

 wildlife diseases, such as avian influenza; and 

 emergency response. These APHIS goals are 

 consistent with USDA's 2005-10 Strategic Plan 

 priorities — particularly "Enhance Protection and 

 Safety of the Nation's Agricultural and Food 

 Supply" and "Reduce the Number and Severity of 

 Agricultural Pests and Disease Outbreaks." 



national Wildlife 

 Research Center 



USDA/AP'"" 



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NWRC's main office is located in Fort Collins, CO. 



Introduction 1 



