COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Mammals section was a big game research section with a primary focus towards deer, elk, antelope and bighorn sheep and these species respective range-habitat issues. Reflecting broadening agency responsibilities, the spectrum of the section in the early 1980s widened to include large carnivores and threatened species. During this time, the section's size of staff and diversity of projects necessitated two research leaders to oversee Cervid and Non-Cervid research programs within the Mammals section. In the 1990s, the section returned to having one research leader.

Over the decades, much of the research conducted by the Mammals Research section was funded by federal aid through wildlife restoration Pittman-Robertson Funds and CPW game cash funds. More recently, funding also includes donations from Great Outdoors Colorado, the private business sector and private individuals through agency-sponsored programs.