About the Washington Coop Unit

The Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (WACFWRU) is one of 43 Units nationally in the U.S. Geological Survey’s Cooperative Research Units Program. WACFWRU marked its 50th year in 2017. The Unit was formed as a fisheries research unit in 1967, and became a combined fish and wildlife research unit in 1989.

Our scientists are experts in quantitative ecology, conservation biology, decision analysis, social science, and environmental justice. We undertake management-relevant research, support decision makers through technical assistance, and train the next generation of conservation leaders. We study a broad array of marine and terrestrial taxa, including mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fishes, and invertebrates, as well as the habitats that support them and the human communities with which they interact. We also facilitate research collaborations between agencies and scientists at the University of Washington and Washington State University, providing our agency cooperators with access to expertise in many research areas. We work closely with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Washington Department of Ecology, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and many other federal agencies.