Prairie dogs

Abstract

Kathy Fagerstone discusses her career with the National Wildlife Research Center. She began as a research technician in 1971. Over the years, she worked on many studies involving small mammals and rodenticides. In the late 1980s the focus of her work switched from research to chemical registrations. She discusses the work culture at the Research Center the changes she saw there during her career.

Abstract Kathy Fagerstone began her career with the Center in 1971, becoming the first female physical science technician at the Research Center. During her 40 year career with the Center, Kathy advanced from a technician, to a wildlife biologist, to a research wildlife biologist, to project leader, and finally to a program manager. Her research interests included risk assessment and small mammal ecology of prairie dogs, ground squirrels and black-footed ferrets. However, the focus of her work...

Abstract

Over the years, the Mammal Damage Unit of the DWRC/NWRC conducted research on coyote predation on livestock; rodent damage to crops, rangeland, and buried cables; and damage to timber production and reforestation efforts caused by deer, bear, and rodents, particularly pocket gophers. The Unit also studied the use of pesticides as well as methods to identify and develop non-lethal or non-chemical alternative management methods for specific wildlife problems.