Our History

The Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Program began in 1935 when five units were established at land grant universities. Additional units have been added in many states since that time. In 1961 the Cooperative Fishery Research Unit Program was initiated. Beginning in 1984, Wildlife and Fishery Units were combined and called Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units. At the present time, there are 40 Cooperative Research Units (see map). The objectives of the Units are essentially unchanged since 1935:

• conduct research basic to the management of fishery and wildlife resources,
• educate fishery and wildlife biologists at the graduate level, and
• provide technical assistance to conservation agencies and groups.

The Colorado Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit was founded in 1947, and the Colorado Cooperative Fishery Research Unit was established in 1963. The two Units were combined in July 1984. The Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is staffed, supported, and coordinated by Colorado State University, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, US Geological Survey, US Fish & Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Management Institute.

Our Mission

The Unit works toward three basic objectives: research, education, and technical assistance. The Unit emphasizes research related to specific management problems where results have a high probability of being applied. The program remains flexible to reflect changing cooperators’ needs. The long-term fishery effort emphasizes a diversity of applied management projects having broad statewide and regional applicability. The wildlife component of the Unit emphasizes sampling and analysis of quantitative methodologies for management. The fisheries and wildlife activities are diverse and integrated with Unit cooperators. The results of research are transferred through formal graduate teaching and technical extension.

Annual Reports

2019 Cooperative Research Units- Year in Review

2018 Cooperative Research Units – Year in Review

2017 Cooperative Research Units – Year in Review, Year in Review Map

2016 Cooperative Research Units – Year in Review

2015 Cooperative Research Units – Year in Review

2014 Cooperative Research Units – Year in Review

 

Archived Annual Reports