QUOTE
and also looking for alternative heads for them and hair styles.
there's a wolven race mod here:
http://www.bear371.com/mods/you should ask for permission to use the meshes if you release the mod.
i saw someone based a fox race off of it.
QUOTE
I am also looking for a "FREE" program that can edit and create .NIF files to better customize the race I am working on creating without having to use what is already there.
Milkshape is free the first 30 days, but then it's only $25 to register so it's close to free. The NIF exporter from NIFLA is alpha so it's won't do aniamtions, but it can do most body parts, it doesn't work for Cuirass so maybe not chest and i haven't tried making a head, hair is no problem.
MILKSHAPENIFLA