Our Units
Scientist Expertise
10-Year Overview
Cooperative Research Units
The Cooperative Research Units program was established in 1935—and codified by Congress in 1960— with a tripartite mission. Today, there are 43 units located in 41 States, at 44 host universities, with a national program office located at the U.S. Geological Survey headquarters in Reston, Virginia.
Our Tripartite Mission:
1. Deliver applied research to fish and wildlife resource decision makers,
2. Enhance graduate education in fisheries and wildlife sciences to cultivate the next generation of conservation professionals,
3. Provide robust technical assistance to personnel managing fish, wildlife, and ecosystems.
Publications
Predicted habitat use for reintroduced grizzly bears in the transboundary North Cascades ecosystem Predicted habitat use for reintroduced grizzly bears in the transboundary North Cascades ecosystem
Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) were once numerous in the North Cascades transboundary region of Washington State (United States) and British Columbia (Canada); however, few remain today. To support ongoing reintroduction evaluations, we used simulations based on movement models developed in the Northern Rocky Mountains to predict habitat use by a small founding group of grizzly bears in...
Digging into soil: Effects of soil texture on RT-QuIC performance for environmental prion surveillance. Digging into soil: Effects of soil texture on RT-QuIC performance for environmental prion surveillance.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by infectious prions affecting wild and captive cervids. Transmission occurs directly between hosts or indirectly through contact with prion-contaminated environments. Soils, particularly those rich in clay, are hypothesized to enhance prion stability, retention, and bioavailability. Accurate detection of prions is...
Mass mortality of avian migrants in New Mexico, USA, that coincided with an extreme weather event Mass mortality of avian migrants in New Mexico, USA, that coincided with an extreme weather event
Many birds are migratory, and this life history strategy allows for maximized access to seasonally abundant resources and favorable climates. However, migration exposes birds to threats and stressors, resulting in high mortality during migration. Anthropogenic landscape alterations and climate change have intensified threats, and mass mortality events linked to extreme weather are more...
Science
USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center Fiscal Year 2025 Highlights
The USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK) proudly supports Federal, State, Tribal, and other partners by delivering high-quality data, cutting-edge science, and practical tools to support natural resource management. Below are some of NOROCK’s highlights during fiscal year 2025.
USGS Ecosystems Mission Area: Animal Welfare Assurance
The Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) provides support for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) at EMA science centers across the nation.
Science for management of America’s iconic wild horses and burros
Wild horses and burros are iconic wildlife of the western USA as well as a complicated management issue on tribal, state, and federal lands. Due to their history as domesticated animals, these wild equids – also called “free-roaming” or “feral” equids – can reproduce quickly, and have few natural predators, allowing their populations to grow rapidly if not managed. When populations are too large...