Our Partners
USFWS partners with Hanscom Air Force Base to survey for a rare salamander in a Revolutionary War landscape
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 day—and now, our day—with ingenuity, integrity and hard work. Fortunately, our history shows that we’ve always been up to the challenge.
Our Locations
Latest Stories
Our People
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...
Habitat Restoration
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...
Wildlife Management
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...
Habitat Restoration
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.
Endangered Species Act
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.
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.
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.