North Dakota Wildlife Federation Opposes DOGE Proposal to Shut Down Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Jamestown, ND – May 16, 2025 — The North Dakota Wildlife Federation (NDWF) strongly opposes the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) recent proposal to shutter the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (Northern Prairie) in Jamestown, North Dakota. For over 60 years, this institution has been a beacon of world-renowned research on the ecology and management of wildlife and their habitats across the Northern Great Plains and beyond.

“This proposal threatens not only a pillar of scientific excellence, but also a cornerstone of our state’s conservation legacy,” said John Bradley, Executive Director of the North Dakota Wildlife Federation. “The Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center puts North Dakota on the global scientific map, and its closure would be a devastating blow to wildlife, hunters, landowners, and communities that depend on sound environmental science.”

As one of the premier wildlife research facilities in the nation, Northern Prairie delivers critical insights into urgent wildlife and environmental issues. Its scientists are leading efforts that help hunters and anglers - their research helps US Fish & Wildlife Service set management and harvest quotas for waterfowl and they help to protect our native fisheries from invasive species. The Center is a major player in keeping healthy fish & wildlife populations vital to North Dakota’s hunting and fishing heritage and the economy it supports. 

Beyond its national and international contributions, the Center plays a deeply rooted role in the Jamestown community. Its researchers and staff are not transient scientists—they are neighbors, homeowners, volunteers, and civic leaders. Many have made Jamestown their long-term home, putting millions of dollars into the local economy each year.

“Closing the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center would be short-sighted, damaging to our nation’s wildlife, and reckless,” said Dave Brandt, a retired Northern Prairie Wildlife Research biologist and NDWF board member. “The science produced here informs land management and conservation policies at every level of government and is crucial for managing our nation’s migratory bird species. Pulling the plug now means turning our back on solutions to some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.”

The North Dakota Wildlife Federation urges DOGE and elected officials to reconsider this proposal and to recognize the irreplaceable value the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center brings to our state, our nation, and our planet.