Biologists in the Northeast Region’s 14 ecological services offices work to conserve and restore habitat, especially wetlands. They investigate the effects of contaminants such as oil on wildlife habitat, and they help recover nearly 100 threatened and endangered plant and animal species in the region, like the dwarf wedge mussel in New Hampshire and Atlantic salmon in Maine.

Biologists review proposals for projects such as wetland alterations, highway construction and hydropower development, providing biological advice to other federal and state agencies. They also work with individuals, organizations and other agencies to protect significant habitat on private, state and federal lands. These partnerships result in a wide variety of projects like the permanent protection of approximately 1,000 acres in West Virginia benefitting the flatspired three-toothed land snail, and a cooperative effort on Long Island, New York, that protects nearly 40 acres in the Pipes Cove focus area, including habitat for fish, migratory birds, and threatened and endangered species.