Park Authority

CONTACT INFORMATION: Open during regular business hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
703-324-8700 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Pkwy.
Fairfax, Virginia 22035
Jai Cole
Executive Director

Department Resources

Wildlife Research in FCPA Parks

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) partners with a variety of universities, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Smithsonian Institution to conduct wildlife research throughout our parks.

As the largest property owner in Fairfax County, FCPA manages nearly 30,000 acres of parkland and serves as the custodian of the majority of public wildlife habitat in the county. These lands provide a unique and invaluable opportunity to study native wildlife within a suburban environment.

By supporting scientific research, FCPA helps expand knowledge about local wildlife, inform conservation strategies and promote sustainable management of our natural resources for future generations.

Image is of a collared fox. Photo Credit: UW Urban Candid Project
Image is of a collared coyote. Photo Credit: Wildlife Atlanta
Image is of a game camera. Photo Credit: Dave Lawlor, Fairfax County Park Authority
Image is of an acoustic recorder/datalogger. Photo Credit: Dave Lawlor, Fairfax County Park Authority

Frequently Asked Questions

Our parks offer the best and most practical location to conduct wildlife research locally because they contain most of the county’s wildlife habitat.

With nearly 30,000 acres of protected land, FCPA offers researchers the opportunity to study wildlife presence, behavior, habitat use and ecological health in a suburban setting. These studies help us understand better how wildlife interacts with each other and with human communities.

Wildlife research provides valuable information for the public, researchers, and wildlife/habitat managers. Benefits include:

  • Presence/absence inventory data to understand which species are found in Fairfax County
  • Species protection and conservation efforts
  • Monitoring ecosystem health
  • Scientific discoveries that expand knowledge of native wildlife
  • Education and public awareness about local species
  • Support for sustainable resource management decisions
  • Understanding species-specific habitat requirements
  • Disease presence, monitoring, and assessment

This information helps guide responsible park management and conservation strategies.

Because FCPA manages the majority of wildlife habitat available for research, our parks provide the most significant and accessible public lands for studying wildlife within the county.

Researchers can examine how wildlife behaves and adapts in a suburban landscape, including how species move across habitats and interact with human infrastructure.

If you see a collared animal, such as a coyote, it is likely part of a local wildlife research project.

Wildlife collars help researchers gather important information about:

  • Habitat use
  • Home range size
  • Movement patterns
  • Interaction with or avoidance of humans and infrastructure

These animals are part of professionally managed research projects designed to improve our understanding of local wildlife and support conservation efforts.
If you see a collared animal, please observe from a safe distance and do not attempt to approach or interfere.

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