Colorado Parks and Wildlife Research
As a science-based agency, Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s staff includes over 30 research scientists who conduct applied research in Aquatic, Avian, Human Dimensions, Mammals, and Wildlife Health units. Research investigations include improving knowledge about specific management issues, developing and evaluating new management techniques and procedures, and synthesizing available information for management and policy decisions. Researchers work closely with CPW managers to identify information needs and directly assist managers and policy-makers with interpreting and incorporating results of their work (and other existing scientific information) into management programs. An internal research program provides flexibility for CPW scientists to conduct long-term and broad-scale studies to rigorously address complex information needs. CPW research scientists publish their findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals, reports, books, and other literature.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Research
As a science-based agency, Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s staff includes over 30 research scientists who conduct applied research in Aquatic, Avian, Human Dimensions, Mammals, and Wildlife Health units. Research investigations include improving knowledge about specific management issues, developing and evaluating new management techniques and procedures, and synthesizing available information for management and policy decisions. Researchers work closely with CPW managers to identify information needs and directly assist managers and policy-makers with interpreting and incorporating results of their work (and other existing scientific information) into management programs. An internal research program provides flexibility for CPW scientists to conduct long-term and broad-scale studies to rigorously address complex information needs. CPW research scientists publish their findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals, reports, books, and other literature.
Researching Wildlife
Researching Colorado's Fish and Waters
Aquatic Toxicology Lab
The Aquatic Toxicology Lab conducts experiments that help inform decision makers and managers about pollution and water quality risks.
Fish Research Hatchery
The Fish Research Hatchery conducts scientific investigations to develop the necessary knowledge, techniques and procedures to effectively manage Colorado's aquatic wildlife.
Aquatic Research
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Aquatic Research Section provides a combination of field and laboratory experimentation to answer statewide fisheries management questions, improve efficiency in production and management of aquatic species, and provide centralized fisheries management functions related to data management, stream habitat improvement and brood stock development.
Researching Birds, Mammals, and Their Habitats
Bird Research
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Avian Research Section conducts original research on the ecology and management of birds and their habitats. The team focuses on addressing needs for high priority bird species in the state of Colorado.
Mammals Research
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.
Wildlife Habitat Research
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is committed to researching better ways to restore and improve wildlife habitat.
Wildlife Health
Colorado Parks and Wildlife have two labs that focus on researching wildlife health.
Aquatic Health Lab
The Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory provides in-house support and diagnostic services, including Bacteriology, Molecular testing, Whirling disease testing, Virology and Parasitology.
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Wildlife Health Research and Lab
The Wildlife Health Section is a group of veterinarians, researchers and technicians dedicated to diagnosing, monitoring and conducting research on diseases of free-ranging wildlife in Colorado. The Foothill Wildlife Research Facility maintains numerous species of wildlife utilized in research projects and for teaching purposes.
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Researching Human Dimensions
The Human Dimensions Research Program (HDRP) conducts social science research in Colorado about a variety of issues affecting state park and wildlife management. The purpose of this is to incorporate social and biophysical data into natural resource policy and decision making processes.
Research Library
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Research Library was created in the late 1960s to provide support to internal wildlife research sections, but it has since 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.
Interested in CPW-Funded Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Projects?
Colorado Parks and Wildlife will not pay an indirect rate higher than 15% on contracts supporting graduate student or postdoctoral research projects. When investigating options for universities and colleges to collaborate with on research projects, CPW will consider the indirect rates a university imposes; CPW will seek the lowest possible indirect rate, but will not pay higher than 15% for indirect costs. CPW may provide this Administrative Directive to university contacts when negotiating on graduate student and postdoctoral researcher projects.