Welcome
Welcome to the Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit website. Here you can explore the history and mission of the Unit along with information on the latest research projects.
Mission Statement
The agreement establishing the Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in 1991 stated that the purpose was to:
"provide for active cooperation in the advancement, organization, and conduct of fish and wildlife research, graduate education, in- service training, technical assistance, public relations, and demonstration programs."
Attention Lesser Prairie-Chicken Landowners!
Important information for Lesser Prairie-Chicken Landowners
Unit News
November 13, 2019, Mitchell Kern successfully defended his Masters Thesis research on Fawn Survival, Cause-specific Mortality, and Bed-site Selection of White-tailed Deer and Mule Deer in Western Kansas.
Project Link
November 12, 2019, Liam Berigan successfully defended his Masters Thesis research on Dispersal, Reproductive Success, and Habitat Use by Translocated Lesser Prairie-Chickens.
Project Link
November 4 - 7, 2019, Dr. David Haukos, Dr. Bram Verheijen, and graduate students Jackie Gehrt, Carly Aulicky, Liam Berigan, Elisabeth Teige, and Nick Parker attended the 33rd Meeting of the Prairie Grouse Technical Council in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Six presentations were made.
September 29 - October 3, 2019, Dr. David Haukos, Dr. Dan Sullins, and Dr. Bram Verheijen, along with ten graduate students and one undergraduate, attended The Wildlife Society's 2019 Conference in Reno, Nevada which was jointly held with the American Fisheries Society for the first time.
- Nine presentations were made, two posters exhibited
- Unit Leader, Dr. Dave Haukos, was presented the Caesar Kleberg Award for Excellence in Applied Wildlife Research from The Wildlife Society. (TWS Facebook Post)
- Our Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat Use, Survival, and Recruitment project was recognized with the Kansas Department for Wildlife, Parks and Tourism for our research efforts as KDWPT was presented the Wildlife Restoration Award (Wildlife Research category) from The Wildlife Society. Hays Post Article (USGS Facebook Post)
July 26, 2019, Chris Gulick successfully defended his Masters Thesis research on Effects of working grassland management on lesser prairie-chicken resource selection within home ranges and during dispersal events.
Project Link
July 10, 2019, we had our annual Coordinating Committee Meeting at the K-State Alumni Center:
- Carly Aulicky, Ph.D. student, and Liam Berigan, M.S. student, both on the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Translocation to the Sand Sagebrush Ecoregion project, were presented the Outstanding Unit Student Award for 2019.
November 27, 2018, Adela Annis successfully defended her Masters Thesis research on Ring-necked pheasant survival, nest habitat use, and predator occupancy in Kansas spring cover crops.
Project Link
October 7 - 11, 2018, Dr. David Haukos, Dr. Dan Sullins, Dr. Bram Verheijen, Adela Annis, Chris Gulick, Alix Godar, Carly Aulicky, Liam Berigan, Talesha Karish, Maureen Kinlan, Jackie Gehrt, Mitchell Kern, and several previous members of the Unit attended The Wildlife Society's 25th Annual Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. Eight presentations were made, three posters exhibited.
August 14, 2018, we had a successful Coordinating Committee Meeting at the K-State Alumni Center:
- Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit 2018 Biennial Report
Two new projects were approved: Evaluating Black Rail Habitat Availability, Occupancy Probability, and Response to Wetland Management Practices in Kansas (with E. Webb, MOCFWRU) and Response of Greater Prairie-Chickens to Military Operations on Fort Riley.
- Chris Gulick, M.S. student on the Use of Grazing Management and Prescribed Fire for Conservation of Lesser Prairie Chickens project, was presented the Outstanding Unit Student Award for 2018.
- Keith Sexson, Assistant Secretary for Wildlife, Fisheries, and Boating for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), was presented with a retirement gift.
September 23 - 27, 2017, Dr. David Haukos, Dr. Dan Sullins, Jonathan Lautenbach, Bram Verheijen, Adela Annis, Alix Godar, Chris Gulick, and Caroline Skidmore attended The Wildlife Society's 24th Annual Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Nine presentations were made.
