The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

About Us

The Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office (Yreka FWO) is one of four U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices that works to protect and restore healthy populations of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the Klamath River Basin. These offices are the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, the Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office and the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

In addition, Yreka FWO works closely with a variety of partners at the national, tribal, state and local levels.  

What We Do

The Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office is involved in numerous habitat and wildlife restoration projects in the region. Our area of coverage ranges from the California/Oregon border along the I-5 corridor, and includes Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity and Tehama counties. We also support other FWOs on projects with species having overlapping jurisdictions.

Our Organization

The Yreka FWO performs work under several USFWS program areas, including Ecological Services, Partners for Fish and Wildlife, Fish and Aquatic Conservation and Habitat Restoration. We also have a Native American Program Specialist, a Public Affairs Officer and a team of Administrative professionals who manage the many grants, budgets, personnel matters to keep the office running smoothly and efficiently.

The Ecological Services Program works to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend. Using the best available science, we work with federal, state, Tribal, local, and non-profit stakeholders, as well as private land owners, to...
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program leads aquatic conservation efforts for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We are committed to tackling the nation’s highest priority aquatic conservation and recreational challenges to conserve, restore, and enhance fisheries for future generations.
We provide national leadership in the recovery and conservation of our nation's imperiled plant and animal species, working with experts in the scientific community to identify species on the verge of extinction and to build the road to recovery to bring them back. We work with a range of public...
The Fish Passage Program works with local communities on a voluntary basis to restore rivers and conserve our nation’s aquatic resources by removing or bypassing barriers. Our projects benefit both fish and people.
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides free technical and financial assistance to landowners, managers, tribes, corporations, schools and nonprofits interested in improving wildlife habitat on their land. Since 1987, we have helped more than 60,000 landowners restore more than 7...
Working together with Native American Liaisons and officials from among the Federally recognized Tribes nationwide, the Office of the Native American Liaison identifies areas where both Federal and Tribal conservation efforts can most effectively conserve fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats.

Our Species

One of the main roles of the Yreka FWO is consultation with other Federal agencies on projects that may affect species or their critical habitat as listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This is important because all federal agencies, not just the Fish and Wildlife Service, have a responsibility to conserve listed species and critical habitat.

Yreka FWO biologists monitor the status and support the recovery of several species of rare fish, wildlife, and plants, from furry mammals like the fisher, to the old-growth forest dwelling Northern spotted owl, to the small and secretive Shasta salamander group, the elusive Franklin's bumble bee, and colorful plants like the Yreka phlox. We work with landowners and leading scientists to gather the best available science on each species and their habitat, and work with our many partners to implement on-the-ground conservation that supports their recovery.

Click here for more information on survey protocols and guidelines for recovery permits in the Pacific Southwest Region. 

Long body; looks stockier than most other mustelids because of its long fur. Dark brown above and below. Broad head has grayish cast; pointed snout; small ears. Bushy tail. Male larger than female.

FWS Focus

The northern spotted owl is a medium-sized, dark brown owl with a barred tail, white spots on the head and breast, and dark brown eyes surrounded by prominent facial disks. Males and females have similar plumage, but females typically weigh 10 to 20 percent more than males.

FWS Focus
The Siskiyou Mountains salamander is a completely terrestrial, medium- sized, slender-bodied salamander with short limbs and a dorsal stripe. This species is found in or near talus (loose surface rock) and fissured rock outcrops where moisture and humidity are high enough to allow respiration...
FWS Focus

The Yreka phlox is a perennial, low-growing bright rose-pink to white-flowered plant that grows in soils derived from ultramafic parent materials (igneous rock containing high concentrations of iron and magnesium) in and near the City of Yreka, Siskiyou County, California. This species has a...

FWS Focus

The gray wolf, being a keystone predator, is an integral component of the ecosystems to which it typically belongs. The wide range of habitats in which wolves can thrive reflects their adaptability as a species, and includes temperate forests, mountains, tundra, taiga, and grasslands. Gray...

FWS Focus

Coho salmon are a species of Pacific salmon which inhabit the Pacific coast in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska.  These fish are also known as silver salmon.  The average size adult coho is around 24 inches and 8-9 pounds, but can range up to 20lbs...

FWS Focus

Our Library

The Yreka FWO began producing a semi-annual newsletter as a means to share the successes of our office, the people who make conservation happen, and some of the compelling species we are responsible for managing in the northern part of California. All content is written by our staff of biologists whose passion for their work is evident in their words. Each issue has a theme for the type of species or projects featured, a profile of one of our talented staff members, and a species spotlight.

These issues are the best way to learn more about what we do and our many collaborative efforts to conserve the uniqueness of the Klamath Basin ecosystem.

Klamath Basin Newsletter - Fall 2021

Dive into the first-ever Klamath Basin Newsletter - Fall 2021, featuring articles and photos from our three fish and wildlife offices along the Klamath River, from Klamath Falls OR to Yreka and Arcata CA. Stories show our projects, programs and people along the river way, highlighting our...

Get Involved

A connection with nature is important, whether you are a child or an adult.  Exploring nature encourages the use of imagination, use of the five senses, and provides an outlet from day to day routines. Children are future naturalists and conservationists, so the stronger we encourage their bonds with nature, the stronger their resolve will be to enjoy and conserve nature. 

There are a number of opportunities to connect with nature in the Yreka, California area:

 

Location and Contact Information