Researcher on a bobcat research trip.
Wildlife Research
Researching Mammals
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Mammals Research section focuses on Colorado’s wild mammals and their habitats in a constantly changing and increasingly human-dominated landscape. This research helps to ensure that functional ecosystems continue to exist to benefit current and future citizens of Colorado and the nation.
Our Work
Black Bear
Black bears are the largest carnivores in the state. Due to environmental changes and residential expansion, encounters and conflict between humans and black bears are increasing in Colorado and across the country. A thorough understanding of the relationship between conflict rates, bear behavior and population dynamics will assist wildlife agencies in successfully reducing conflicts through management.
Elk
Elk serve as one of Colorado’s most ecologically and economically important mammals. Therefore, it is critical that wildlife managers have the information and tools they need to properly manage elk populations. This involves understanding changes in habitat, climate, predator communities, and human development and how these changes impact elk population demography and behavior.
Lynx
Lynx populations in Colorado plummeted in the late 1800s and early 1900s for various reasons, including general predator poisoning and unregulated trapping. The last known lynx was illegally trapped near Vail in 1974, a year after the state listed the lynx as endangered. In 1997, Colorado Parks and Wildlife undertook what was to become one of North America’s most high-profile carnivore reintroductions to date. Four years after the last lynx was released into the state in 2006, CPW deemed the initial lynx introduction effort a success. Research has now focused towards determining and maintaining the long-term success of the reintroduction.
Moose
After successful reintroduction efforts, Colorado’s Shiras moose population exceeds 2,000 animals statewide. With stable to increasing and spatially expanding populations, moose can now be hunted in the state during regulated seasons. In order to make informed licensing decisions, wildlife managers need adequate and reliable data on moose populations in the state.
Mountain Lion
Mountain lions, also known as cougars or pumas, reign as Colorado's largest cat. However, in recent years, human and mountain lion interactions have increased, prompting research projects focused on testing potential management solutions and collecting information about mountain lion behavior and population dynamics. The results of this research will also help wildlife managers set harvest quotas.
Mule Deer
Mule deer populations in Colorado have shown dramatic fluctuations since the 1960s. Beginning in the 1990s, some western Colorado mule deer herds demonstrated the most recent decline. As such, CPW focused research efforts on developing management techniques to increase the health and survival of mule deer, an economically and ecologically important game animal.
Snowshoe Hare
Understanding and monitoring snowshoe hare density in Colorado is important because hares comprise 70% of the diet of the state-endangered, federally threatened Canada lynx. Forest management is an important driver of snowshoe hare density, and all National Forests in Colorado are required to include management direction aimed at conservation of Canada lynx and snowshoe hare.
Video: "Lynx: Shadows of the Forest" - CPW
Spotlight
Featured Project
“Lynx: Shadows of the Forest” showcases the Canada lynx reintroduction in Colorado. Along with the historical perspective, the short film highlights ongoing work to provide habitat where lynx and their primary food source, the snowshoe hare, can thrive, and the challenging work of monitoring lynx and hare populations. Produced by Sean Ender of Peak to Creek Films, the film features Scott Wait, Jake Ivan, Kevin Duda, Kirsten Terkildsen, Brad Weinmeister, and Doug Clark.
Mammal Research
Research Library
The Research Library was created in the late 1960s to provide support primarily to the wildlife research sections. The Research Library evolved to serve the broader information management needs of CPW staff. Library collections are focused on wildlife ecology and associated ecological information and CPW public historical records such as Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting agendas and minutes.
Wildlife Cameras
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Photo Warehouse
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Photo Warehouse is a custom application designed to facilitate archiving, identifying, summarizing, and analyzing photo data collected from remote wildlife cameras.
- Organize and manage photographic data from camera trap studies.
- Identify species within the images using multiple observers to improve efficiency and prevent mistakes.
- Apply filters and create queries to summarize and explore photographic data.
- Export spatial data for use in ArcMap and Google Earth.
- Produce input files for common analyses such as occupancy, abundance, density, and activity patterns using programs MARK, PRESENCE, DENSITY, and R.
CPW Photo Warehouse 4.3 Software
CPW Reciprocal Open Source License Agreement
Note that you must have a valid Microsoft Access license (2007 or newer) or a copy of the free Microsoft Access Runtime Version (2007 or newer) in order to use this product. For questions or comments, please email [email protected].
Meet the Research Team
Mammal Research personnel also serve on various committees and working groups with other partners (state, federal, and local governments, and non-governmental organizations) in bird research and conservation.
Chuck Anderson
- Mammals Research Section Leader
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Mat Alldredge
- Wildlife Researcher, Carnivores
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Eric Bergman
- Wildlife Researcher, Ungulates
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Jake Ivan
- Wildlife Researcher, Species of Conservation Concern
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Nathaniel Rayl
- Wildlife Researcher, Ungulates/Carnivores
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Karen Hertel
- Research Librarian
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Michelle Gallagher
- Mammals Research Section Assistant
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Ellen Brandell
- Wildlife Research Scientist, Carnivores
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Shane Frank
- Wildlife Research Scientist, Carnivores
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Ben Wasserstein
- Database Manager/Analyst
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife