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Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
Our Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center's priority is to continue the important work of the Department of the Interior and the USGS, while also maintaining the health and safety of our employees and community. Based on guidance from the White House, the CDC, and state and local authorities, we are shifting our operations to a virtual mode and have minimal staffing
Featured Research
Featured Research
READI-Net—A network of robotic environmental DNA samplers to enhance the early detection of aquatic biological threats
NOROCK News & Highlights
NOROCK News & Highlights
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NOROCK Quick Links
NOROCK Quick Links
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News
USGS Scientist Discusses Using DNA to Assist with Aquatic Invasive Species Management in BioScience Podcast
USGS Scientist Discusses Using DNA to Assist with Aquatic Invasive Species Management in BioScience Podcast
Research in Support of Native Amphibians
Research in Support of Native Amphibians
New Publication Synthesizes Climate Effects on Bears and their Interactions with Humans
New Publication Synthesizes Climate Effects on Bears and their Interactions with Humans
Publications
READI-Net—Providing tools for the early detection and management of aquatic invasive species
OverviewEarly detection of biological threats, such as invasive species, increases the likelihood that control efforts will be successful and cost-effective. Environmental deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA) sampling is an established method for the efficient and sensitive early detection of new biological threats. The Rapid eDNA Assessment and Deployment Initiative & Network (READI-Net) is a project des
U.S. Geological Survey Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center science highlights for fiscal year 2023
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center is based in Bozeman, Montana, and has field offices in Glacier National Park, Mont.; Missoula, Mont.; and Knoxville, Tennessee. Our scientists respond to the natural resource management needs of Federal, Tribal, and State partners—directly engaging in the coproduction and application of integrated, interdisciplinary science—a
Chronic wasting disease alters the movement behavior and habitat use of mule deer during clinical stages of infection
Integrating host movement and pathogen data is a central issue in wildlife disease ecology that will allow for a better understanding of disease transmission. We examined how adult female mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) responded behaviorally to infection with chronic wasting disease (CWD). We compared movement and habitat use of CWD-infected deer (n = 18) to those that succumbed to starvation (an
Science
Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat Research in Western National Park Units
Mountain goat and bighorn sheep are iconic symbols of many national lands in the West. Both species have limited distributions that can be difficult to observe and face multiple stressors including disease, increasing recreation in remote areas, and shifting weather regimes that influence their forage and thermoregulation. As species with relatively small population sizes, understanding...
Using Pollinator Environmental DNA to Assess the Ecological Resilience of America’s Grasslands
Scientists from six USGS science centers are collaborating with USDA, university, and Tribal partners, and Department of the Interior land managers, to assess the status of pollinator communities and the distribution of species of conservation concern using environmental DNA. These methods will be used to improve assessments of habitat quality and pollinator responses to restoration, including...
By
Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory
USGS research on the effects of renewable energy on wildlife
Renewable energy development, such as solar and wind energy, is growing in the United States and is expected to continue expanding for the foreseeable future. However, renewable energy infrastructure can be a risk to some wildlife including threatened and endangered species. Wildlife managers and energy developers need wildlife risks to be assessed and effective strategies to mitigate those risks...