Welcome to the Habitat and Population Evaluation Team.
What We Do
Our Services
The Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET) is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). The HAPET office supports the conservation mission of the Service by integrating scientific data and landscape-scale conservation planning with a focus on migratory birds. This enables the Service to more effectively conserve and manage wildlife and their habitats for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and conservation partners.
Latest Stories and Topics
Stories
Migratory Species
Plunging into the icy waters of North America's coasts, sea ducks navigate a world unseen by most. Despite representing a significant portion of the continent’s duck species, these unique marine birds are among the least understood. Yet, unlike other waterfowl, many sea duck populations have...
Science and Technology
Named for its similar appearance to a weather radar image, the Thunderstorm Map is one of the HAPET office’s most recognizable products. The Thunderstorm Map highlights upland accessibility for breeding pairs of waterfowl, and has been used to direct conservation efforts to areas of high importance
Habitat Restoration
As most people are aware, populations of many species of grassland-associated butterflies, moths, and bumblebees in the Great Plains of North America are experiencing steep declines due to habitat loss and degradation. These declines are exacerbated by the generally limited dispersal ability of...
Migratory Species
The whooping crane is a federally endangered species that relies on habitat in the Dakotas to help meet the energy needs of migration, reproduction, and population growth. Given its endangered status, many partners want to understand whooping crane habitat use for conservation planning and to...
Migratory Species
The Four-Square-Mile Survey was originally developed by scientists at USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center as a means of assessing the contribution of National Wildlife Refuge System land, in the Prairie Pothole Region, to continental waterfowl populations. This survey has been conducted...
Migratory Species
Increased focus within the Service on biological planning, strategic habitat conservation, and conservation design underscores the need for scientifically sound spatial models to guide conservation. The HAPET Office has developed methodology to use stop-level georeferenced North American Breeding...