Mapped: 33 new big game migrations across American West
Art and Science
Science
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility
Year in Review
World's Longest Mule Deer Migration
Beluga Whale in Alaska’s Cook Inlet
Wildlife Management Institute Outdoors New Bulletin
Stories from the Field
All Research
Purdue University hosts new CRU!
Budget, Staffing, How our Program Works
Cooperative Research Units
Established in 1935 at Iowa State University, our mission is our hallmark: work with university students to develop the conservation workforce, help decision-makers make complex conservation decisions, and to provide technical assistance between natural resource agencies and universities. There are 43 units in 41 states (Indiana new 2023). Our national office is at the USGS HQ in Reston, VA.
Research at a Glance
Research at a Glance
We have more than 1,000 research projects under way and generate 250-300 scientific publications annually.
How our Program Works
How our Program Works
Fire, wildlife disease, human dimensions, threatened and endangered species
Where's our Science?
Where's our Science?
43 units in 41 states. ~600 students graduate from our program annually. Our newest Unit is at Purdue.
News
Mapped: 33 new big game migrations across American West
Mapped: 33 new big game migrations across American West
Friday's Findings - March 22, 2024
Friday's Findings - March 22, 2024
Friday's Findings - March 8, 2024
Friday's Findings - March 8, 2024
Publications
Ungulate migrations of the Western United States, volume 4
Broadly distributed across the Western United States, ungulates (hooved mammals) play an important role in ecosystem function by affecting vegetation communities and forming the prey base for large carnivores. Additionally, ungulates provide economic benefits to regional communities through tourism and hunting and hold cultural significance for many Tribal communities. Many ungulates migrate seaso
At-a-Glance—Summary of the 2023 U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Research Unit Program Year in Review
IntroductionEstablished in 1935, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (CRU) program is a unique partnership among the USGS, State Fish and Wildlife agencies, host universities, the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). As of 2023, there are 43 CRUs in 41 states that fall under three supervisory regions and a Nati
The effects of wastewater reuse on smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) relative abundance in the Shenandoah River Watershed, USA
Municipal and industrial wastewater effluent is an important source of water for lotic systems, especially during periods of low flow. The accumulated wastewater effluent flows—expressed as a percentage of total streamflow (ACCWW%)—contain chemical mixtures that pose a risk to aquatic life; fish may be particularly vulnerable when chronically exposed. Although there has been considerable focus on
Science
Wastewater reuse may be detrimental to smallmouth bass abundance in the Shenandoah River Watershed
Issue: Municipal and industrial wastewater effluent is an important source of water for streams and rivers, especially during periods of low flow. The reuse of wastewater effluent may become even more important if climate change exacerbates low streamflow and drought conditions. However, wastewater effluent often contains chemicals that, when chronically present, can affect the health of aquatic...
USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection
Understanding the short- and long-distance movements of wildlife is critical for a wide variety of ecological research questions and management decisions. Since the mid-1980s, the USGS Alaska Science Center has used information from telemetry devices on wildlife species to determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on...
Diseases of Fish and Wildlife
The coronavirus pandemic, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer, and white-nose syndrome in bats have spawned great interest in diseases of native fish and wildlife. Many aspects of widely known diseases of wild (as opposed to domestic) animal populations are poorly understood, including their ecology, incidence, distribution, and methods for reducing effects of disease on culturally...