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...

Mourning Doves in grass
Wildlife Management
Banding Mourning Doves
If you live in the contiguous United States, chances are good that you have seen a mourning dove. It’s one of the most abundant bird species in North America with approximately 346 million doves in the U.S. estimated as of Sept. 1, 2023.
View of Port of Toledo in Oregon
Wildlife Management
Service Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish and Wildlife
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has received Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for information related to the import and export of wildlife specimens and flora into and out of the United States contained in the Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS) database.
Sand tiger shark swims past artificial reef built from a ship
Habitat Restoration
Where Steel and Concrete Meets Sea: Artificial Reefs Along the Atlantic Coast
Beneath the Atlantic surface, concrete pyramids, stripped subway cars, and massive steel skeletons of vessels lie purposefully placed across the ocean floor repurposed into bustling undersea metropolises. These are artificial reefs, human-made sanctuaries giving new life to marine ecosystems and...
White to pink flower petals erupt near the top center of a globe-shaped plant filled with white and brown needle-like leaves.
Endangered Species Act
Five-Year Status Review Recommends Delisting of Lloyd’s Mariposa Cactus
Lloyd’s mariposa cactus shows signs of full recovery after a rigorous five-year status review, part of the process mandated by the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s review recommends to the Secretary of the Interior removal of the cactus from federal protections under the...
Two adult bald eagles -- with black bodies, white heads and,yellow beaks -- perching side by side on a branch next to a nest
Wildlife Wonders
A Very American Bird
The America 250 celebration invites us to reflect on our nation’s journey: where we’ve been, what we’ve protected, and who we’ve become. And no story captures that narrative better than the bald eagle.
Calm river with trees along both shorelines and a partly cloudy blue skie.
Midwest mussel experts leading an emergent field
The next time you relish the clear, clean water of a rippling stream, you can thank a mussel. We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognize the special role our freshwater-filtering friends have in keeping the environment healthy for all variety of species – including us humans. That’s why it’...

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...

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.