Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Here, you'll find images related to research going on at the Fort Collins Science Center. Our team of scientists are working on multiple areas of environmental interest, ranging from land conservation effectiveness to invasive reptiles.
A researcher demonstrates the extraction of a ponderosa pine tree core from an increment borer, the tool used to core trees. Tree coring allows scientists to learn about tree growth, age, and more without harming the tree. Photo by Carolina May (USGS)
A researcher demonstrates the extraction of a ponderosa pine tree core from an increment borer, the tool used to core trees. Tree coring allows scientists to learn about tree growth, age, and more without harming the tree. Photo by Carolina May (USGS)
For most of the 1900s, sections of the Cotoni-Coast Dairies unit of the California Coast National Monument were mined for limestone and shale. Minerals were transported to the cement plant from the top of quarries through conveyer belts like this one.
For most of the 1900s, sections of the Cotoni-Coast Dairies unit of the California Coast National Monument were mined for limestone and shale. Minerals were transported to the cement plant from the top of quarries through conveyer belts like this one.
The spectacular Mojave Desert landscapes within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area draw millions of visitors each year.
The spectacular Mojave Desert landscapes within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area draw millions of visitors each year.
The spectacular Mojave Desert landscapes within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area draw millions of visitors each year.
The spectacular Mojave Desert landscapes within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area draw millions of visitors each year.
FORT scientist Chris Holmquist-Johnson leverages uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), such as the one shown here, to advance hydrological research through innovative aerial data collection. As a certified UAS Instructor for the Department of the Interior (DOI), he also leads training programs to expand UAS capabilities among DOI scientists.
FORT scientist Chris Holmquist-Johnson leverages uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), such as the one shown here, to advance hydrological research through innovative aerial data collection. As a certified UAS Instructor for the Department of the Interior (DOI), he also leads training programs to expand UAS capabilities among DOI scientists.
Researchers attach lightweight radio transmitters to bumble bees to track their movements and determine where they spend most of their time. Photo by Ian Pearse (USGS).
Researchers attach lightweight radio transmitters to bumble bees to track their movements and determine where they spend most of their time. Photo by Ian Pearse (USGS).
Lake Abert, Oregon is one of the 20 terminal lakes identified by USGS partners as priority ecosystems for study by the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA.
Lake Abert, Oregon is one of the 20 terminal lakes identified by USGS partners as priority ecosystems for study by the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA.
USGS researchers and collaborators stand in front of the future site of a wildlife overpass in Colorado. Photo by Sarah Carter (USGS).
USGS researchers and collaborators stand in front of the future site of a wildlife overpass in Colorado. Photo by Sarah Carter (USGS).
USGS researchers with the Colorado Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration visit a newly constructed wildlife underpass on I-25, south of Castle Rock, CO. Photo by Sarah Carter (USGS).
USGS researchers with the Colorado Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration visit a newly constructed wildlife underpass on I-25, south of Castle Rock, CO. Photo by Sarah Carter (USGS).
USGS researchers with the Colorado Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration visit a newly constructed wildlife underpass on I-25, south of Castle Rock, CO. Photo by Sarah Carter (USGS)
USGS researchers with the Colorado Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration visit a newly constructed wildlife underpass on I-25, south of Castle Rock, CO. Photo by Sarah Carter (USGS)
USGS researchers and collaborators view wildlife fencing adjacent to an wildlife underpass on I-25 in Colorado. Photo by Sarah Carter (USGS).
USGS researchers and collaborators view wildlife fencing adjacent to an wildlife underpass on I-25 in Colorado. Photo by Sarah Carter (USGS).
A small tube of Gunnison sage-grouse DNA, collected by the Fort Collins Molecular Ecology Lab. Photo: Shawna Zimmerman (USGS).
A small tube of Gunnison sage-grouse DNA, collected by the Fort Collins Molecular Ecology Lab. Photo: Shawna Zimmerman (USGS).
Goose Lake, on the Oregon-California border, is one of the 20 terminal lakes identified by USGS partners as priority ecosystems for study by the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA.
Goose Lake, on the Oregon-California border, is one of the 20 terminal lakes identified by USGS partners as priority ecosystems for study by the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA.
A herd of bison graze alongside the road in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
A herd of bison graze alongside the road in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Researchers swab a bat for the presence of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the fungus that causes deadly white-nose syndrome.
Researchers swab a bat for the presence of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the fungus that causes deadly white-nose syndrome.
Summer Lake, Oregon is one of the 20 terminal lakes identified by USGS partners as priority ecosystems for study by the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA.
Summer Lake, Oregon is one of the 20 terminal lakes identified by USGS partners as priority ecosystems for study by the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA.
An animated heat map of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) annual peak male counts from 1990 to 2023 using the standardized sage-grouse lek database. The color ramp uses light blue (fewest number of males counted on leks) to purple (greatest number of males counted on leks), reflecting local minimum and maximum counts of males.
An animated heat map of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) annual peak male counts from 1990 to 2023 using the standardized sage-grouse lek database. The color ramp uses light blue (fewest number of males counted on leks) to purple (greatest number of males counted on leks), reflecting local minimum and maximum counts of males.
Field station staff use microscopes to date fire scars in wood samples from Aztec Springs, NM. Photo by Ellis Margolis (USGS).
Field station staff use microscopes to date fire scars in wood samples from Aztec Springs, NM. Photo by Ellis Margolis (USGS).
Paul Cryan shows off some of his 3D-printed bat tools.
Paul Cryan shows off some of his 3D-printed bat tools.
FORT Geneticist Jennifer Fike teaches 6th graders from Compass Community Collaborative School about extracting DNA from strawberries. Photo by Emma Dietrich (USGS).
FORT Geneticist Jennifer Fike teaches 6th graders from Compass Community Collaborative School about extracting DNA from strawberries. Photo by Emma Dietrich (USGS).
A wild horse stands in the Frisco Herd Management Area, Utah. Photo by E. Long (USGS)
A wild horse stands in the Frisco Herd Management Area, Utah. Photo by E. Long (USGS)