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

Group of 16 people stand in front of Condor Ridge Observation Point while holding up a maroon-colored banner that says Latino Outdoors with a sun logo. In the background, vast mountains and blue skies
Our Partners
USFWS builds Conservation ‘Comunidad’ with Latino Outdoors and Oxnard Birder’s Club in Southern California
"It felt incredible to see California condors soaring in the wild and understanding the deeper implications of their presence,” said Martín Mejía, a Fillmore resident and member of Latino Outdoors Ventura, who was among the 17 participants who joined U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists and...
Open field of Poppies and Wishbone bush in San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
History and Culture
Environmental Justice and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Environmental justice means simply that all people have a right to just treatment and meaningful engagement in activities that affect human health and the environment where they live, work, play, learn, and pray. It means that economic status or race should not be a factor when deciding where to...
A young girl holding an eastern painted turtle while conducting research at Patuxent Research Refuge.
Our Partners
Service and Partners Celebrate Innovative Agreement
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today joined leaders from Bowie State University, Alabama A...
An aerial view of a dry creek on the left and a blue body of water on the right, separated by green trees.
Habitat Restoration
$5 Million in BIL Funding Set to Transform Habitat for Bull Trout in Gold Creek
Gold Creek, about 55 miles east of Seattle, Washington, in the Cascade Range, is about to experience a massive transformation, one that will reopen pathways of wildlife migration and return the cold, clear water that the Endangered Species Act-listed bull trout and other anadromous fish need to...
Judges at the 2024 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest hold the winning artwork.
Get Involved
South Dakota Artist Adam Grimm Wins 2024 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest
After two days of competition, Adam Grimm of Wallace, South Dakota, emerged as the winner of the 2024 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest with an acrylic painting of a pair of spectacled eiders. The announcement was made at an in-person event and via livestream at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich,...
Colorful animals illustration
Get Involved
Connecting Spanish-speaking Kids with Nature
The Service mission is about conserving nature – and connecting people with nature – for the benefit of future generations. We do this work where people are - on the landscape, yes, but also in our digital spaces. And despite our name, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conservation mission extends...

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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