U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

What's going on at FWS

With more than 560 National Wildlife Refuges, 70 national fish hatcheries, numerous regional and field offices across the country and thousands of active conservation projects, the nearly 8,000 employees of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have a lot going on. Here are a few of the latest news stories from across the Service...

Recreation

Get Outdoors at Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

Visitors to Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge can enjoy picnicking, fishing, hiking, hunting, bicycling, non-motorized boating, and wildlife observation and photography. Birders can watch the iconic royalty of endangered birds – the red cockaded woodpecker. With so many activities to...

May 30, 2024

Biologists mix pups together at a Mexican wolf foster event.

Endangered Species Act

Record Mexican Wolf Pup Foster Year

A record 27 Mexican wolf pups were fostered into wild dens this spring. Now in its ninth year, fostering is helping to improve the genetic diversity of the wild population of Mexican wolves

May 30, 2024

Climate Change

Mangroves Move North as the Climate Heads South

It was probably inevitable that mangroves would reach Georgia. They’ve rampaged up the Florida coasts after spreading across Louisiana and Texas. And, as the temperature continues to warm at historic levels, Georgia’s climate turns increasingly hot, muggy, tropical, and mangrove friendly

May 20, 2024

Photo of Crooked Creek after a dam removal

Habitat Restoration

Fish Passage and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Fish passage barriers, like a dam removed in Gadsden County, prevent fish, mussels, and other aquatic wildlife from moving freely through waterways. Endangered freshwater mussels can now do their jobs of helping purify the water along Crooked Creek a bit better now that a longstanding dam has...

May 23, 2024

A biologist places a juvenile freshwater mussel into a river

Wildlife Wonders

First-Ever Freshwater Mussel Reintroduction in Texas

The San Antonio River Authority and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released freshwater mussels raised by Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery into the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River, marking the first time hatchery-produced freshwater mussels have ever been reintroduced into the wild in Texas.

May 22, 2024

Bright blue, Big Sandy crayfish resting on a rock.

Endangered Species Act

Threatened species gets head start at hatchery

Biologists released hatchery-raised Big Sandy crayfish in Virginia for the first time, marking a historical step towards recovery for the federally threatened species.

May 20, 2024

Our Focus

The history of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can be traced back to 1871. We are the only federal government agency whose primary responsibility is to manage fish and wildlife resources in the public trust for people today and future generations. Here are just a few of our focus areas...

Director's Priorities

Two small, brown butterflies on a flower with pink long petals and a deep redish-brown seed head.

National Wildlife Refuges

Protecting Wildlife

Climate Change

Invasive Species Management

Law Enforcement

What We Do For You

If you’re looking for places to experience nature; interested in partnering with us; seeking technical advice, permits, grants, data or scientific research; want to know more about today’s conservation challenges; looking for ways on how you can get involved and make a difference -- the Service has a lot to offer and more…

Visit Us - Our Locations

With more than 560 national wildlife refuges, dozens of national fish hatcheries and more than 100 field offices, there are numerous great U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service locations to visit.