The Missouri Ecological Services Field Office focuses on Endangered Species, Environmental Contaminants, Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration, and Conservation Planning Assistance in the state of Missouri. Our goal is to work with people to conserve and restore endangered species, migratory birds, and their habitats, along with other important fish and wildlife resources.

Latest News

Brown and black striated freshwater mussels sitting a steel truck bed
Endangered Species Act
Draft recovery plan for four imperiled freshwater mussels
They have quirky names and are often mistaken for stones, but freshwater mussels are very much alive and perform critical ecological functions in rivers and streams. We've drafted a plan to save four imperiled mussels protected under the Endangered Species Act: the rayed bean, sheepnose, snuffbox...
Grotto sculpin underwater
Endangered Species Act
Draft Recovery Plan for grotto sculpin open for public comment
The grotto sculpin is a rare, endangered cave-dwelling fish unique to five cave systems in Perry County, Missouri. Today, we at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are announcing a draft plan to save this unique fish and opening a 60-day public comment period.
Close up photo of multiple green and brown mussels in a person's hand
Endangered Species Act
Proposal to list the salamander mussel as endangered
We're proposing to list the salamander mussel as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and are seeking public comment. The salamander mussel is a species of freshwater mussel currently found in scattered populations across 14 states from New York southwest to Arkansas. We are also proposing...
Western fanshell mussels
Endangered Species Act
Protecting two more freshwater mussel species under the Endangered Species Act
Following a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we are protecting the western fanshell and a newly identified species known as the “Ouachita” fanshell as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. These two freshwater mussel species are found in rivers and streams...
Rabbitsfoot Mussel
Endangered Species Act
Service Announces Availability of Final Recovery Plan for Rabbitsfoot Mussel
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing the availability of the final recovery plan for the rabbitsfoot mussel. This plan includes specific criteria for determining when the rabbitsfoot should be considered for delisting, removing it from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened...
buff-colored crustacean with brown speckles on multi-colored sandy bottom of creek
Endangered Species Act
Two species of Missouri crayfish listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the Big Creek crayfish and the St. Francis River crayfish as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The two lobster-like crustaceans are found within the St. Francis River watershed in southeastern Missouri.
View All News

Our Organization

A rocky shoreline of a river. The water is calm. Mist and green branches line the river.
The Ecological Services Program works to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend. Using the best available science, we work with federal, state, Tribal, local, and non-profit stakeholders, as well as private land owners, to...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA

Our Species

Our office works to conserve declining species and recover threatened and endangered species and their habitats with a focus on imperiled bat and freshwater mussel species. Our office has also been actively involved with the conservation and recovery efforts of Topeka shiner, Niangua darter, grotto sculpin and Ozark hellbender, among others. We use the Endangered Species Act to preserve and protect important habitat that imperiled species depend upon for their survival. We also use the Natural Resource Damages Assessment and Restoration program to study and restore injured natural resources using funds obtained from parties responsible for the injury.

Projects and Research

Natural Resources Damage Assessment

The Missouri Field Office manages two very large mining sites, the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District and Tri-State Mining District, that encompass multiple Superfund sites, thousands of acres of impacted land, and hundreds of miles of contaminated streams.  The two mining districts make up the number one historic lead and zinc production areas in the nation, respectively.  Managing these cases requires extensive coordination and collaboration with state partners, Department of the Interior Office of the Solicitor, U.S. EPA and the Department of Justice. 

Outreach and Education

The Missouri Field office is dedicated to supporting conservation education across the state. Staff members often volunteer with partners at events to share the importance of conservation work, research, and partnerships. You can find our table at events such as Columbia Earth Day, Arrow Rock Birds, Bees and Blooms Festival, and many more. In 2023, the Missouri Field Office partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to produce educational videos about bats, crayfish, and freshwater mussels. Those videos can be located in the Missouri Ecological Services Video Library. 

One gray bat with its wings open wide flying in a cave
Image Details
Bat Conservation in Missouri

Bats across North America are in decline, scientists across the globe strive to protect them.  Our agency actively collaborates with federal, state and non-governmental partners to conserve and restore listed bat species. The full video series on bat conservation in Missouri can be accessed on YouTube. 

 

 

Missouri's bats: flight to survival:...
Bat Conservation in Missouri
Big creek crayfish nestled under rocks
Image Details
Crayfish Conservation in Missouri
Crayfish Conservation in Missouri

There are more than 600 species of crayfish in the world, and about 400 in North America. Invasive species are negatively impacting ecosystems across the world, including crayfish habit  Our agency actively collaborates federal, state and non-governmental partners to study and protect these aquatic invertebrates. The full video series on crayfish...

Crayfish Conservation in Missouri

Get Involved

Our office frequently partners with schools, public and private conservation organizations, as well as local community leaders and national wildlife refuges to communicate our conservation mission and opportunities throughout the state of Missouri. We also work with these groups to develop projects, such as survey methods training, that may benefit at-risk as well as other important fish and wildlife species and their habitats.

Location and Contact Information