U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Law EnforcementConserving the Nature of America

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A Supervisory Wildlife Inspector shows seized illegal pelts to Washington Post photographers at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Valley Stream, New York office. Credit: Catherine J. Hibbard/USFWS
The Buyer Beware exhibit at Logan Airport in Boston, MA aims to educate travelers about the risks of purchasing and importing illegal wildlife products. Credit: Bill Butcher/USFWS
A Special Agent examines a freshly shot, immature bald eagle.
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Law enforcement is essential to virtually every aspect of wildlife conservation. The Office of Law Enforcement contributes to U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service efforts to manage ecosystems, save endangered species, conserve migratory birds, preserve wildlife habitat, restore fisheries, combat invasive species, and promote international wildlife conservation.

 

Service law enforcement today focuses on potentially devastating threats to wildlife resources, including illegal trade, unlawful commercial exploitation, habitat destruction, and environmental contaminants. The Office of Law Enforcement investigates wildlife crimes, regulates wildlife trade, helps Americans understand and obey wildlife protections laws, and works in partnership with international, state, and tribal counterparts to conserve wildlife resources.

 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Northeast Region encompasses 13 states from Maine to Virginia. More than 66 million people, about a quarter of the nation's population, live within this area. The headquarters for the Northeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is in Hadley, Massachusetts.

 

Service special agents, distributed among the Region's 13 states, conduct investigations relating to major illegal commercial activity involving trade in protected wildlife. Special agents are charged with enforcing 11 domestic wildlife protection laws and 5 international treaties, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

 

Wildlife inspectors work at airports, seaports, border ports and international passenger and mail facilities such as Baltimore, Boston, Newark and New York. Uniformed inspectors monitor legal wildlife trade and intercept illegal importations and exportations of federally protected fish and wildlife.

 

Where we Work

map of Northeast Region

Rewards program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is authorized to pay rewards for information or assistance that leads to an arrest, a criminal conviction, civil penalty assessment, or forfeiture of seized property. Payment of rewards is the discretion of the Service and is linked to specific federal wildlife laws. The amount of any reward we may pay is commensurate with the information or assistance received. Please discuss the possibility of receiving a reward with the Service personnel receiving your information or assistance.

To Report a Wildlife Crime:
Email: fws_tips@fws.gov
Call: 1- 844-397-8477

Additional resources

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Last updated: February 24, 2020
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
    Northeast Region
    300 Westgate Center Dr.
    Hadley, MA 01035
    (413) 253-8200
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Northeast Region


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