Dr. Anderson moved to Wyoming full time in 1980 and helped launch a new endeavor — the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.

The Co-op Unit established a formal partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the University of Wyoming to do important, applied wildlife research. Anderson and the students he mentored have made lasting contributions with research on conserving the endangered Wyoming toad, reintroducing the black-footed ferret, on big game migration, on how changing landscapes affect non-game birds and on energy development’s effects on pronghorn and mule deer. His contributions also have also led to changes benefiting wildlife, such as the use of markers on transmission lines to decrease bird collisions, population estimation techniques for raptors in the state, and habitat delineation. He led the Co-op until his death in 2005.

During his career, Anderson advised or co-advised 100 graduate students, authored 200 scientific articles and authored several books.