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Research Compliance and Tech Transfer

Wildlife Field Studies and Research

The University of Montana’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees all activities involving vertebrate animals, including wildlife studies conducted in the field and observational studies. 

  • All wildlife studies involving vertebrates require UM IACUC review and approval, including observational studies  
  • UM IACUC oversight applies regardless of USDA exemptions or location of the study. 

USDA Regulated Field Studies informational graphic

Field Study vs. Field Research 

  • Field Study: Data collection and handling that does not affect or alter the animal's behavior, cause harm or include invasive procedures (e.g., visual counts, camera traps, bird banding, morphometric data collection). 
  • Field Research (USDA): Activities that involve capture, handling, sedation, invasive procedures, or altering behavior. 

Field Research Examples: USDA Reporting and Oversight Required 

USDA Reportable Field Studies definitions
Invasive Procedures

Studies with major operative procedures:  

  • Intra-cardiac blood collections 
  • Arterial/venous cut downs for catheter placement 
  • Surgical implantation of devices
Harm

Procedures in which animals may experience: 

  • Death 
  • Pain or distress 
  • Trauma 
  • Overheating 
  • Behavioral stress 
  • Physical harm 
  • Unnecessary discomfort from handling
Materially altered behavior

Activities for research purposes that: 

  • Use hormones or pheromones to change mating or migration patterns 
  • Activities that cause repeated nest/den disturbance during breeding and rearing of young 
  • Relocation of migratory animals beyond their natural migration routes

Use the links below to see our policy and guideline documents.