Patuxent Wildlife Research Center--Welcome

Patuxent Wildlife Research Center--Welcome

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Patuxent's Mission

Patuxent's Vision

Patuxent's Core Capabilities

Patuxent's Goals

Judd A. Howell, Center Director

Welcome Message from Director

With great pleasure, we welcome you to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (PWRC) and our website. Please take a little time to get to know us. Learn about what we do to advance wildlife and ecological sciences for the conservation, protection and preservation of our Nation's biological resources. The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center has been a national and international leader in wildlife research since its creation by Congress in 1936 as an integral part of the Patuxent Research Refuge. After several organizational changes, PWRC is one of 17 Research Centers of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the natural resources research arm of the Department of the Interior (DOI). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the National Wildlife Refuge System administers the Patuxent Research Refuge.

Our vision and mission define our common purpose, state why we conduct our research and provide lasting beacons to guide us into the future. Our Center's legacy has been a long and successful endeavor to identify and understand complex biological issues that affect our Nation's wildlife resources, using research as our lance to cut to the heart of difficult problems and deliver answers to our Federal, State and local partners.

Scientists at Patuxent have made great contributions to our society and some have become icons such as Lucille Stickel while others have made significant contributions but have not been in the limelight for their seminal work such as Jim Nichols and Chandler Robbins.