Partners are valuable allies to the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and play a vital role in meeting the Service's conservation goals. We team up with private conservation organizations, state and federal agencies and tribes. Together, with the landowner, this collective shares funding, materials, equipment, labor and expertise to meet restoration goals and our conservation mission.

Partnership Categories

Great things happen when partners are matched with the right opportunities. That's why we work with many types of partners at FWS from local businesses and conservation groups to veterans and large industry partners. Here are just a few of the Partner Categories working with FWS today.

We frequently partner with academia to further the conservation of and research into the stewardship of many species.

We often partner with non-governmental conservation organizations on conservation projects, whether it's to conserve identified species such as the monarch butterfly or to advise on land acquisition for conservation so that it has the greatest benefit for species.

We partner with these groups to help them conduct their commercial activities in a way that best promotes conservation.

We work with other federal agencies to help them meet their legal responsibilities as well as their mission.

Friends groups are organizations of community members committed to helping national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries meet conservation goals that would otherwise be out of reach. 

Our Partners

Here are just a few of our national partners.  You can view the full list of FWS partners, along with the regions and areas of focus our work together entails.

Latest Stories About Our Partners

Mitch Osborne leads a group around restored sections of Cripple Creek, July 2023
Our People
From Bush Planes to Arctic Dives, Mitch Osborne Has Served Alaska High and Low
As his 31-year U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service career comes to an end, the Fairbanks-based fish and wildlife biologist still has ‘attaboys’ to give.
a sitting kit fox
Endangered Species Act
$4.7M in Grants Given to Support Endangered Species Recovery in California
In 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Reclamation issued $4.7 million in grants to several projects that support endangered species recovery in the Central and San Joaquin Valleys. The grants are funded through the Central Valley Project Conservation Program and the Central...
Two elderly men removing a hook from a fish
Recreation
Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery Hosts 14th Annual Catch A Smile Senior Fishing Derby
170 seniors ages 62+ attended the 14th Annual Catch A Smile Senior Derby held at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery.
biologist holds a wing of a black duck
Migratory Species
2023 Waterfowl Banding Operations: Maine
We were eager to find out what was waiting for us in the duck trap every morning. A trap full of mallards is a sight to see and we started several mornings getting completely soaked while we herded them into our catch box. An invigorating way to start the day for sure!
An adult California spotted owl sits on a tree branch looking at the camera
Endangered Species Act
The Sound of Science
Traditional methods used to monitor for California spotted owls, a species proposed to be listed as threatened under the ESA, is time consuming. It requires hiking in remote forests, hooting for owls and hoping they respond. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has teamed up with Kevin Kelly at the...
Several people walking into a river
Endangered Species Act
Snapshot: Haywood County, N.C. Students Learn About River Life First-Hand
Haywood County, N.C. Students Get Their Feet Wet During the 2023 Kids in the Creek Event

Partnership Services

Through our partnerships we are able to expand our capabilities through the inclusion of services in areas such as:

  • Grant opportunities
  • Sponsorship of grants
  • Cooperative Agreements

To find out more about how our partner provides services view our partner services below.