A pale coral-colored Miami cave crayfish faces the camera while underwater.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Listing the Miami Cave Crayfish as Threatened under Endangered Species Act  

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list the Miami cave crayfish as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act with a section 4(d) rule. The Service is not proposing to designate critical habitat at this time. The public is invited to submit comments by Nov. 20.

 

The Southeast Region carries out this mission within the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our regional office is located in Atlanta, Georgia.

What We Do

Our Services

Our operations are guided by a Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director, and a team of Assistant Regional Directors. Meet our regional leadership.

Across the southeastern United States, we carry out the Service mission by:

  • Protecting and recovering hundreds of southeastern species protected as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act,
  • Gathering the best available scientific and commercial data for protected species to perform recovery actions,
  • Preserving healthy habitats for wildlife and opportunities for public recreation at 131 National Wildlife Refuges,
  • Investigating wildlife crimes such as wildlife trafficking and the illegal shooting of protected species,
  • Producing fish for stocking across southeastern rivers,
  • Conducting research on the health of southeastern habitats,
  • Consulting with state and federal partners on ways to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people,
  • Permitting certain public and private development activities to ensure they do not jeopardize the continued existence of endangered species,
  • Proactively pursuing opportunities to conserve species at-risk of becoming listed as threatened or endangered,
  • Working with private landowners to restore, improve and protect fish and wildlife habitat on their lands,
  • Distributing over $250 million annually in grants to state conservation agencies, and
  • Communicating and educating the American public about wildlife conservation via social media, educational programs, public hearings, and other forms of outreach.

Latest Stories and Topics

Our Library

Regional Highlights

Bald Eagle Monitoring Guidelines-Southeastern US

This step-by-step guidance will help you determine if your new or intermittent activity near an eagle nest, including alternate nests, is likely to take or disturb bald eagles (a potential violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act) and measures that you can adopt to avoid that...

Sunset over water.
In the southeastern United States, changes to the climate are having profound impacts on our nation’s wildlife and habitats. In aquatic environments, evidence is growing that higher water temperatures resulting from climate change are negatively impacting cold- and cool-water fish populations...
A half dozen large silver fish jumping out of the water to a height of six feet.
The spread of four species of large carp—bighead, black, grass, and silver— threatens the Southeast’s renowned aquatic biodiversity and local outdoor economies. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its federal and state partners are on the front line fighting Invasive carp in southeastern waters.

Projects and Research

Gopher Tortoise

In 2022, the Service determined the eastern and western portions of the gopher tortoise’s range meet the criteria of Distinct Population Segments (DPS) under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The Service found the eastern DPS no longer meets the criteria for ESA listing and therefore withdrew the eastern DPS as a candidate. The gopher tortoise is protected by state regulations range-wide. If state protections for the species change in the future, especially in the core areas of the species, a reevaluation of the adequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms may be required. Additionally, the Service confirmed that the western DPS continued to meet the definition of a threatened species under the ESA. The determination was made after a rigorous analysis of the best available scientific data and commercial information. Read more about our Notice of Findings on the Gopher Tortoise Project Page.   

Red Wolf Recovery Program

Once common throughout the Eastern and South Central United States, red wolf populations were decimated by the early 20th century as a result of intensive predator control programs and the degradation and alteration of the species’ habitat. When the red wolf was designated as an endangered species in 1967, the Service initiated the Red Wolf Recovery Program in an effort to conserve and recover the species.