NCWRC Research Initiatives

The Commission conducts applied research internally and collaboratively with partners. This science forms the foundation for sound management and regulatory decisions. Priorities are directed by the North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan, the Commission, and Commission biologists. 

Tab/Accordion Items

No RFPs are available at this time.

Open Call for Research Ideas

NCWRC will host an annual open call for research ideas from September 15th through October 15th. The process for receiving NCWRC funding for open call research ideas will proceed in four steps.

Step I

To be considered, an applicant’s research idea must secure support from a NCWRC Research Committee member.  Applicants should contact the appropriate Research Committee member to discuss the idea and gain support before submitting a formal research idea.

Research Committee Members:

Step II

Research ideas supported by a Research Committee member will be submitted.  Research ideas may be submitted annually from September 15th  through October 15th using the idea submission form to research@ncwildlife.org. Acceptance of a research idea does not constitute a commitment of funding. If a research idea matches an internal proposal, the NCWRC proposal will be used moving forward.  

Step III

Proposals fitting within the scope of NCWRC objectives, priorities, and funding availability will be invited to submit a full proposal for consideration.  

Step IV

Applicants selected for funding will be notified by the Research Committee member who was contacted during Step 1. Award recipients must register in North Carolina’s e-procurement system to receive funds. The full process from Step I through Step IV is expected to take a minimum of 9 months. Awardees may not receive funding for one to two fiscal year cycles, depending on program.

Flow Chart in the following order: choose proposal, draft contract, NC e-procurement, terms and conditions, signatures and execution, and finalize purchase order

Some examples of current research:

  • Restoration of habitat at Kings Bridge Tract
  • White-nose syndrome surveillance and management in NC
  • Mountain bog habitat management and restoration at bog turtle sites in western NC
  • Identifying SGCN habitat use across multiple scales throughout the eastern U.S. using MOTUS WTS
  • Designing and assessing a regional acoustic monitoring program for the endangered Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel
  • Urban black bears: diet, movement, reproduction, and Bearwise program

  • Multi-scale assessment of wild turkey ecology in North Carolina 

  • Conservation status and management of Henslow's sparrow at the VOA game land and eastern NC
  • Development of a Breeding Bird Atlas using the functionality of eBird 

  • Deer ecology across an urban-rural continuum

  • Comparative population genetics of small mammals in the spruce-fir ecosystem of western NC
  • Interspecific competition, population genetics, hybridization zones, and management of Appalachian Cottontails in western NC
  • American alligator ecology in North Carolina
  • Black bear abundance and density in the NC Coastal Bear Management Unit
  • Allegheny Woodrat Camera Surveys
  • Canine distemper virus (CDV)
  • Neuse River waterdog genomics
  • Movements of black bears (Ursus americanus) along Interstate 40 in the Pigeon River Gorge in North Carolina 

  • Wild turkey health: analysis of pathogen data with demographic and spatial-temporal data 

  • Conservation genomics of the Buxton Woods white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus buxtoni) on the Outer Banks, North Carolina
  • DNA fingerprinting of sea turtles nesting in North Carolina
  • Rabies and Canine Distemper Virus rapid test use on wildlife in field environments

Coming soon.

If you would like to request NCWRC assistance in collecting samples for a research project, please complete the sample request form and submit to research@ncwildlife.org. Responses will be returned within 60 days. 

Entities requesting NCWRC data on human subjects, or collaborating with the agency to collect data on human subjects must enter into a data sharing agreement with the agency. Human subjects data are those obtained through intervention or interaction with individuals as well as any identifiable personal information supplied by the agency or collected from individuals. The human subjects data sharing agreement requires that the requestor take steps to remove personally identifiable data, only use data for specific purposes and time periods, and safely store data. An agreement must be executed prior to the release of any agency data on human subjects to the requestor.

For permit requests, visit GoOutDoorsNorthCarolina.com

NCWRC Science Communication Webinar