We are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the American people.

We offer a variety of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and our shared natural heritage. And through our work to conserve natural resources, we provide communities with healthier environments, clean water, flood control and a strong economy.

Achieving Our Mission

Learn about our priorities, statutory authority and functions. 

History of Fish and Wildlife

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior and the nation’s oldest conservation agency. Our origins date back to 1871 when Congress established the U.S. Fish Commission to study why the nation’s food fishes were decreasing and recommend ways to reverse that decline.

Though the name of our agency has changed multiple times over the years, what endures is the collective dedication of Service employees to face the conservation challenges of their dayand now, our daywith ingenuity, integrity and hard work. Fortunately, our history shows that we’ve always been up to the challenge.

Our Locations

Latest Stories

A dark grey salamander with light blue spots on a bed of green moss
Our Partners
Red Coats and blue-spotted salamanders 
USFWS partners with Hanscom Air Force Base to survey for a rare salamander in a Revolutionary War landscape  
three people stand near a pole in the dirt as a small excavator pounds it into the ground
Our People
Guardians of the Great American Outdoors
Just minutes from the center of the most populous city in Virginia, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge feels like another world: the refuge on the outskirts of Virginia Beach teems with life across a range of coastal habitats for migratory and wintering waterfowl. The beachfront views and wildlife...
A biologist holds a juvenile lake sturgeon
Habitat Restoration
Giving lake sturgeon a strong start
With the arrival of spring, we're working with our partners to prepare for our annual lake sturgeon egg takes, one facet of a 40-year-old restoration program that relies on reintroducing fish as its cornerstone. Our efforts in the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River basins are at the heart of a...
small fish and a rush of water exit a pipe being supported by someone
Wildlife Management
Lake trout restoration in Lake Champlain a success
Thanks to a successful, decades-long effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, lake trout have been restored to Lake Champlain. As a result, the wild population no longer needs to be augmented by...
Ducks flying over a wetland on the Texas Gulf Coast prairie
Habitat Restoration
Restoring Wetlands for Waterfowl on Texas’ Gulf Coast Prairie
Duck hunting holds a special place in the hearts of many Texans, symbolizing a connection to the land, tradition, and camaraderie. At the Lavaca Rio Ranch in Jackson County, this heritage of duck hunting isn't just a pastime; it is a way to preserve the natural landscape.
a tan sea turtle lays on the sand under some grass
Endangered Species Act
Sea Turtle Nesting Season Kicks Off on the Texas Coast
With sea turtle nesting season beginning on the Texas coast in late March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is urging everyone using Texas beaches to do their part to help detect and protect threatened and endangered sea turtles on the beach.

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See Where Your Tax Dollars Go 

Each year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service develops an annual budget justification which defines our goals, objectives, and the funding necessary to accomplish them. Once approved, funds are allocated to programs and regions, and monitored to ensure those funds are used as mandated by Congress.

View Our Budget

Do Business With Us

The mission of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. In support of the mission, the FWS procures goods and services that include: land rehabilitation; information technology resources; construction projects; professional and nonprofessional services; supplies; and environmental studies. We look forward to working with qualified, capable contractors, including small businesses.

Learn About Contracting

Work With Us

The range of career options available in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is as wide as it is rewarding. A career with us might be just what you’re looking for if you’re passionate about supporting our mission and science, water quality, nature, air quality, fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, native plants, or education. You can make a difference by bringing your unique experience, background, and perspective to our work.  

Browse Current Job Opportunities