USFWS Conserving New York

10/01/2025

Due to the federal government shutdown, this account is not being actively updated.
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Operations in the Absence of Appropriations

07/26/2024

This great blue heron is hungry for river herring!

The great blue heron is the largest of the North American herons. Great blue herons occur in saltwater and freshwater habitats as well as grasslands and agricultural fields. These herons move slowly while stalking fish and other prey, and they use their sharp bill to stab their next meal. Great blue herons can be found in New York year-round.

Photo Description: Great blue heron eating river herring. Photo Credit: Bryan Connelly.

07/19/2024

Peek-a-boo! Can you spot the juvenile yellow-bellied sapsucker in the tree cavity?
Yellow-bellied sapsuckers are woodpeckers that drill shallow holes into tree bark and eat the sugary sap and insects in the tree. They drill larger holes in trees for nesting purposes, as seen in this photo.

Photo Description: Yellow-bellied sapsucker juvenile in a tree cavity. Photo Credit: Bryan Connelly.

07/18/2024

This belted kingfisher is on the look out for its next meal. The belted kingfisher is named for its characteristic black belt across its breast. Belted kingfishers can occur in New York year-round and are typically found near bodies of water where they can dive to catch fish and crayfish with their large beaks. They nest in cavities in dirt banks adjacent to rivers.

Photo Description: Belted kingfisher perched on a tree. Photo Credit: Bryan Connelly.

07/17/2024

07/12/2024

The Karner blue butterfly is an endangered species that lives in pine barren ecosystems. The butterfly has a one-inch wingspan and is found in the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, New York and New Hampshire. The wild blue lupine is their only host plant, which means their survival depends on the presence of the flower.

During the warmer months, Karner blue butterflies complete two generation cycles. In spring, the first caterpillars hatch from eggs that were laid the previous year. These caterpillars feed on the wild blue lupine leaves until they develop into adults around mid-May to early June. This first generation of adults lays their eggs around this time, so we’re right on time for the second generation of butterflies to emerge and begin flying! The cycle will start all over again in the following spring.

Photo Description: Male Karner blue butterfly on a butterfly milkweed flower (top), wild blue lupine flowers (bottom) (USFWS).

06/26/2024

Following in our Pride Month series, today we're featuring the dogbane leaf beetle.

You can’t miss this iridescent dogbane leaf beetle – its scientific name, Chrysochus auratus, loosely translates to “decorated with gold.” These beetles get their hues from the way light bounces off their exoskeleton, not from pigmentation, so the colors will never fade, even after the insect dies. You can find the female beetles in NY in the summer, feeding on dogbane plants like Indian h**p and spreading dogbane. Learn more about dogbane leaf beetles: https://ow.ly/atQF50SfNWr.

Photo description: Dogbane leaf beetle on a plant. (Jessica Bolser, USFWS)

06/24/2024

Following in our Pride Month series, today we're featuring the painted turtle.

The painted turtle is quite the sight with its colorful head and shell. This native species is one of the most abundant turtles in NY and can be found basking on logs in the state’s waterways. Learn more about the painted turtle here: https://ow.ly/YUee50SfOH2.

Photo description: Adult painted turtles basking on woody debris in a body of water. (Arianna Ramirez, USFWS)

06/18/2024

Following in our Pride Month series, today we're featuring the wood duck.

Male wood ducks certainly cover the full spectrum of the rainbow. Both year round and breeding populations of these tree-nesting ducks can be found in NY in forested areas near wetlands. Learn more about these birds here: https://www.fws.gov/species/wood-duck-aix-sponsa.

Photo description: Female (left) and male (right) wood ducks perched on a log next to a turtle (Larry Pace, USFWS)

06/17/2024

Happy National Pollinator Week! Pollinators are critical because they help transfer pollen between plants, which helps to fertilize them and produce flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Most people recognize bees and butterflies as pollinators, but the list includes moths, birds, bats, ants, even flies and mosquitoes!

Pollinators are threatened by habitat loss and pesticide use. Increased development and the rise of grass lawns have reduced the habitat native pollinators depend on. For migratory species like monarch butterflies, this means fewer patches of habitat for them to rest at during their long journey. Also, while pesticides can help get rid of unwanted guests, excessive use may harm beneficial species.

You can help conserve pollinators through proper use of pesticides. Additionally, consider creating pollinator habitat by planting native wildflowers in your garden like milkweed.

Photo Description: Bumblebee pollinating a milkweed flower (Ryan Moehring, USFWS)

06/15/2024

This June, NYFO is celebrating Pride month and the LGB community by highlighting some rainbow animals found in New York State.

Nothing says rainbow more than NY’s native rainbow darter. In 2009, this species was found expanding north and east from the Rochester area and has most recently been captured as far east as the Hudson River. Follow this link to learn more about the rainbow darter: https://newyork.fisheries.org/rainbow-darter-reach-the-hudson-river/.

Photo description: Picture of breeding male rainbow darter. (Ryan Hagerty, USFWS)

06/11/2024

It’s ! Our country is home to a wide diversity of turtles that can be found in woodlands, wetlands, and seas. Turtles are important for our ecosystems. Some species disperse plant seeds, while others create burrows that different animals use for shelter. Over 49 different turtle species are protected under the Endangered Species Act, like this bog turtle!

What can we do to protect turtles?

1. Turtles may move across roads between their habitat, so be cautious while you’re driving. If it’s safe to do so, you can move the turtle to the other side of the road in the direction it was traveling.

2. Do not bring wild turtles home as pets! Turtles take a decade or more to start reproducing, so it’s important that we so they can contribute to their population. If you believe someone is collecting or selling wild turtles illegally, call your state agency or submit a wildlife crime tip to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 1-844-FWS-TIPS (397-8477) or https://www.fws.gov/wildlife-crime-tips.

3. Leave no trace: Keep trash out of turtle habitats.

For more examples on how you can help turtles, visit our webpage: https://www.fws.gov/story/how-you-can-help-turtles.