USFWS National Wildlife Forensics Laboratory
Definition
The US federal wildlife forensics laboratory in Ashland, Oregon. Holds over 40,000 reference specimens and provides identification services for US enforcement cases involving CITES-listed and protected species.
- Location
- Ashland, Oregon
- Operator
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Reference specimens
- Over 40,000
- Case scope
- US enforcement, CITES-listed and protected species
Common questions
How does the reference specimen collection support species identification?+
Examiners compare morphological features, and sometimes DNA or isotope profiles, of questioned material against the catalogued specimens spanning thousands of species to identify processed products where visual traits alone are ambiguous.
Is this the same facility as the US NFWFL?+
Yes, the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory and the USFWS National Wildlife Forensics Laboratory refer to the same Ashland, Oregon facility, described by its full formal name in USFWS-specific sources.
Related terms
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- Voucher Specimen
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