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

dozen caribou females and their calves on tundra with mountains in the distance
Wildlife Management
Administration Initiatives Prioritized in President’s $4 Billion FY 2025 Budget Request
The Biden-Harris administration today released the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, including a proposed $1.9 billion in current appropriations, to fund the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The budget funds the Service’s resource management and conservation programs and supports the...
An image of a Florida Panther resting on the ground.
Wildlife Management
Interior Department Establishes Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area
The Department of the Interior today announced the establishment of the Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area in southwest Florida as the 571st and newest unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, which is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The new four-million-acre conservation area...
Biologist holding an adult lake trout
Wildlife Crime
Keeping native fish on the menu in Michigan
If you’ve visited Wisconsin, Michigan or the other states that touch Lake Michigan, you’ve likely enjoyed a meal of lake trout, walleye or whitefish. Did you know that a team of biologists likely helped make that meal possible? Learn more about how we shut down the illegal harvest and sale of these...
A wolf technician with the Mexican wolf recovery program carries a wolf in from a helicopter.
Endangered Species Act
Mexican Wolf Population Grows for Eighth Consecutive Year
The wild population of Mexican wolves saw another year of growth in 2023, according to the results of the annual survey. The 2023 population census revealed a minimum of 257 Mexican wolves distributed across Arizona and New Mexico. This increase marks the eighth consecutive year of population...
Yellow prairie coneflowers in a lush green field at sunset
New projects begin in midwest to safeguard seeds and clean-up contaminants
It has been said that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. When it comes to habitat restoration, not only does it take quality native seeds and know-how, it takes a vision. We know that making a future full of native grasses, functional wetlands and the wildlife that call the midwest...
Salt marsh with stream
Habitat Restoration
Saving the Salt Marsh
The South Atlantic's iconic salt marshes are disappearing. A slew of federal, state, and nonprofit partners are trying to reverse the climate-fueled trend.

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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