Clicky

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

  • Home
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Working with others to conserve, protect & enhance fish, wildlife, plants & their habitats. fws.gov

Operating as usual

Saturday monster tales...You're taking landscape photos in the Santa Catalina Mountains in Arizona when suddenly you loo...
25/03/2023

Saturday monster tales...

You're taking landscape photos in the Santa Catalina Mountains in Arizona when suddenly you look down and see a Gila monster walking into your shot. That's exactly what happened to photographer Mike Baker.

The Gila monster is a heavy-bodied chonk of a lizard. They aren't spotted very often because they spend 98% of their lives in their burrows. When they are above ground, they tend to move rather slowly and will first try to escape if a predator comes near. They are one of only two venomous lizards in North America, so please, no pets.

Photo: Gila monster photo bomb courtesy of Mike Baker

"I believe that one thing that makes our agency so great is that everyone in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can be a...
25/03/2023

"I believe that one thing that makes our agency so great is that everyone in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can be a leader, and continually developing my leadership skills is very important to me. I’ve worked for the Service for 13 years, and I want to continue to grow within this agency as a leader. Being a woman supporting the mission of the Service to me means becoming a better leader everyday regardless of the position description and supporting other women as they carve their unique paths." - Colleen Draguesku, regional transportation coordinator

Photos by Colleen Draguesku/USFWS

Happy Friday from all of us to you! Have you come across any spring marvels lately?Modoc National Wildlife Refuge in Cal...
24/03/2023

Happy Friday from all of us to you! Have you come across any spring marvels lately?

Modoc National Wildlife Refuge in California sure has!🤩 Plan your visit: fws.gov/refuge/modoc

Photo courtesy of C. Luckett

Spring is here, which means grizzly bears are beginning to emerge from dens. They will be hungry, so we encourage you to...
24/03/2023

Spring is here, which means grizzly bears are beginning to emerge from dens. They will be hungry, so we encourage you to be proactive and help us keep bears wild. You can help by storing food and garbage in bear-resistant places and never feeding bears. Learn more: http://ow.ly/cFE850Nrqj9

Birds use 4 major flyways to migrate throughout North America. These flight paths have the best wind and uplift conditio...
24/03/2023

Birds use 4 major flyways to migrate throughout North America. These flight paths have the best wind and uplift conditions, helping birds fly nonstop for hundreds of miles over the sea. When they complete their over sea journey, they need a place to stop, and national wildlife refuges are prime layover destinations providing habitat for resting and food to replenish their energy.

The yellow warbler pictured here spends its winter in Central America and northern South America and is one of the first warblers to migrate in both spring and fall.

Migratory bird flyway image by USFWS.
Warbler photo by Sandra Uecker/USFWS.

This photographer got a two-fer!It's amazing to experience wildlife being wild. Imagine spotting not only a bobcat but a...
24/03/2023

This photographer got a two-fer!

It's amazing to experience wildlife being wild. Imagine spotting not only a bobcat but a coyote too! That's what happened to a photographer in Texas. Robert Mines witnessed these two predators both hunting the same rabbit and captured this spectacular shot. Isn't nature awesome?

The photo was submitted to the Share the Experience photo contest by Robert Mines (sharetheexperience.org).

Forests play an important role in the survival of imperiled species! We’re proud to announce a memorandum of understandi...
23/03/2023

Forests play an important role in the survival of imperiled species!

We’re proud to announce a memorandum of understanding which formalizes the Wildlife Conservation Initiative (WCI). The initiative is a collaborative partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Alliance of Forest Owners, the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc., and other organizations which help conserve imperiled wildlife within private working forests nationwide.

The initiative makes more than 46 million acres of forestland available for collaborative species conservation initiatives. Through the WCI, private forest owners provide access to forest habitats for researchers to conduct on-the-ground studies about forest-dependent species such as pollinators, turtles, mussels, songbirds and more. This provides more robust data, which helps conserve imperiled species for future generations. Learn more: http://ow.ly/31yv50NqGHu

Photo: Wood turtle by Jessica Piispanen/USFWS

Wildflower season has started in Texas! Flowering trees are always some of the first to bloom, including this Mexican bu...
23/03/2023

Wildflower season has started in Texas! Flowering trees are always some of the first to bloom, including this Mexican buckeye. Native to New Mexico and Texas, these lovely flowers provide early sustenance to pollinators.

Photo: Laura Bonneau/USFWS at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

Good boys and good girls? Yeah, we got em'! It’s a ruff day for criminals when our K-9 officers are on the case! These p...
23/03/2023

Good boys and good girls? Yeah, we got em'!

It’s a ruff day for criminals when our K-9 officers are on the case! These professional pooches help protect people and wildlife across the country.

Our K-9s are also trained ambassadors to the public. They find people lost on vast public lands, participate in community and environmental education events, and help to de-escalate situations to protect both the officer and the public. These devoted dogs are also members of the Canine Inspection Team, trained to detect wildlife scents common in the illegal wildlife trade. Is there anything they can't do?!

Behind every great dog, is a great handler. A big thanks to the dedicated Federal Wildlife Canine Officers and Wildlife Inspectors that help keep people and wildlife safe.

😎 out 💪 out!Feeling this first week of spring like a buff-breasted sandpiper at a courtship lek 💃Buff-breasted sandpiper...
23/03/2023

😎 out 💪 out!

Feeling this first week of spring like a buff-breasted sandpiper at a courtship lek 💃

Buff-breasted sandpipers are annual long-distance travelers and are on the move from as far south as Argentina. Look for them during spring migration as they pass through the center of North America on their way up to the northernmost reaches of Alaska and Canada to nest.

Photo: a male buff-breasted sandpiper displays for nearby females during the breeding season on the coast of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Credit: Shiloh Schulte for USFWS.

Promising news for North America’s bats: over $2.5 million in funding is on its way to develop an innovative treatment t...
22/03/2023

Promising news for North America’s bats: over $2.5 million in funding is on its way to develop an innovative treatment to protect them against white-nose syndrome: http://ow.ly/aXzA50NpA74

Together with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) we are working to investigate how FDA-approved treatments, alone or in combination with vaccination, can prevent this lethal fungus from decimating North American bat populations.

Widespread throughout the U.S., white-nose syndrome has led to declines of over 90% of northern long-eared, little brown and tri-colored bat species in less than ten years. Due to this high mortality rate, the northern long-eared bat was reclassified from threatened to endangered status in March 2023, and the tricolored bat was proposed for endangered status in September 2022.

We’re working with public and private partners to address white-nose syndrome and bolster bat conservation. Learn how you can help bats: http://ow.ly/paW450NpA75.

Breaking News: Hawaiian monk seal and green sea turtle are just "good friends."You know who else is good friends? NOAA F...
22/03/2023

Breaking News: Hawaiian monk seal and green sea turtle are just "good friends."

You know who else is good friends? NOAA Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service! Together our two agencies share responsibility for implementing the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This historic law turns 50 years old this year and has helped to protect species like the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and its habitat.

Hawaiian monk seals are one of the most endangered mammals on the planet, but thanks to the work of NOAA, USFWS and state and local partners, this seal is making a comeback. After decades of declining numbers in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, the total population of monk seals began to increase gradually in 2013. In 2022, the population surpassed 1,500 for the first time in more than 20 years!

This good news is a testament to the species’ resilience and a result of committed conservation work from hard work being done by dedicated conservationists. Happy and happy !

Photo: Mark Sullivan/NOAA; Permit# 10137

Just a greater sage-grouse queen on her snow castle.Though it's officially springtime, there's still some snow covering ...
22/03/2023

Just a greater sage-grouse queen on her snow castle.

Though it's officially springtime, there's still some snow covering sagebrush habitat. During colder months, the greater sage-grouse's diet consists of nearly 100% sagebrush.

Photo: Female greater sage-grouse at Seedskadee and Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuges in Wyoming by Tom Koerner/USFWS

Water still too chilly at the beach? No worries! You can still enjoy coastal vibes at national wildlife refuges! Did you...
22/03/2023

Water still too chilly at the beach? No worries! You can still enjoy coastal vibes at national wildlife refuges! Did you know we have more than 180 national wildlife refuges that conserve marine, coastal and Great Lakes habitats?

📷 A. LaValle/USFWS at Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge in Sequim, WA.

"It's true, it's true, the rumors are TRUE, we have INDEED found Nest Number 2!" - The Condor Cave Our California Condor...
21/03/2023

"It's true, it's true, the rumors are TRUE, we have INDEED found Nest Number 2!" - The Condor Cave

Our California Condor Crew confirmed the second nest for the 2023 Nesting Season. Big congrats to male #636 and female #563. These two attempted to nest together last year, but unfortunately their egg turned out to be non-viable. However, #563 has successfully been able to raise chicks with other males in the past, so the Condor Crew is optimistic about their chances this year.

Follow the The Condor Cave for more California condor updates!

Photo courtesy of Dave Meyer/Santa Barbara Zoo

A lot of y'all who said I couldn't fit this whole starfish in my mouth are real quiet these days.Commonly called “seagul...
21/03/2023

A lot of y'all who said I couldn't fit this whole starfish in my mouth are real quiet these days.

Commonly called “seagulls,” if you want to impress a birder, just call them "gull." There are over 50 gull species on the planet, and approximately 28 of those are native to North America.

Gulls have adapted very well to living with humans and are often associated with eating trash or stealing food on the beach. It’s important that people don’t feed gulls. They can become very aggressive towards humans, and people food isn’t good for gulls. This sassy bird’s natural diet consists of fish, birds, insects, small mammals, plants, seeds, fruits, and dead stuff. They eat almost everything and occasionally go whole hog on a big sea star.

Photo of a Western/Glaucous-winged hybrid (possibly? gulls are hard) by Jeff Morris (sharetheexperience).

Getting your ducks in a row is great and all, but how about getting your bluebirds in a row? There's always that one!Mou...
21/03/2023

Getting your ducks in a row is great and all, but how about getting your bluebirds in a row? There's always that one!

Mountain bluebirds live in the western half of North America, and can often be seen perching on the edge of open areas. From their perch, they watch for insects and spiders to eat.

Photo: Anna Blades/USFWS

World Frog Day was yesterday! Amphibians are on the move in spring. Many frogs like this leopard frog leave their overwi...
21/03/2023

World Frog Day was yesterday! Amphibians are on the move in spring. Many frogs like this leopard frog leave their overwintering spots every spring and migrate to breeding pools, often returning to areas they have spawned in before.

Photo of Leopard Frog in the mud at Lake Andes Wetland Management District in South Dakota by Marcie Hebert/ USFWS

We’re providing more than $20 million in grants to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and 20 states via Boating Infra...
20/03/2023

We’re providing more than $20 million in grants to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and 20 states via Boating Infrastructure Grants: http://ow.ly/y5zh50Nngqw

The BIG Program proudly supports our partner agencies in expanding and improving access for recreational boaters. This year’s grants will support an estimated 381 new slips and berths as well as thousands of linear feet of additional side-tie docking space, plus other amenities including fuel docks, restrooms, showers, and Wi-Fi access for the benefit and enjoyment of all.

Boating Infrastructure Grants are part of a state-industry-federal partnership. The partnership and grants help connect people with nature and outdoor recreation, such as boating and fishing.

Funding for these grants comes from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Boaters and manufacturers contribute to the trust fund through excise taxes and duties on certain fishing and boating equipment and boating fuels. The recent Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included reauthorization of this trust fund, the cornerstone of state-based aquatic resource conservation and benefits all states and U.S. territories.

The greater roadrunner can run at speeds greater than 18 miles per hour. Their elongated leg bones and larger leg muscle...
20/03/2023

The greater roadrunner can run at speeds greater than 18 miles per hour. Their elongated leg bones and larger leg muscles allow them to reach those top speeds. Their feet are also extra flexible, so their toes can spread and make maximum contact with the ground.

Photo: Mick Thompson CC BY-NC 2.0 flic.kr/p/GR1YBc

20/03/2023
Badger Spring Cleaning

I don't always do spring cleaning, but when I do, I move the dirt and rocks from this corner to that corner.

American badgers don’t hibernate, but they do become more active as the temperatures begin to rise. They spend a portion of the spring cleaning their burrows, moving dirt, and rearranging their antique rocks.

These tiny tanks are excellent diggers, and their forelimbs allow them to rapidly excavate dirt and soil. Let this busy badger inspire you to get your burrows less funky and your home nice and clean this spring.



Video: Kari Cieszkiewicz/USFWS

Video description: A badger digs rocks and dirt from its den as it cleans.

It's a warm June night. You hear a strange sound reverberating through your kayak or canoe or from the dock. It might ju...
20/03/2023

It's a warm June night. You hear a strange sound reverberating through your kayak or canoe or from the dock. It might just be the freshwater drum serenading their sweethearts! 🎵🥁

This fish has a song to sing and a story to tell, and we have two guest fishermen this week to help with that! Get hooked on : https://www.fws.gov/fish-of-the-week-podcast 🐟🎣

What's your favorite fishing memory? Does this fish go by a different name in your neck of the woods?

📷 Eric C. Maxwell (CCbyNC4.0)

Hey, social team, make sure to come up with something ribbiting for World Frog Day. 🐸Please let us croak on about how mu...
20/03/2023

Hey, social team, make sure to come up with something ribbiting for World Frog Day. 🐸

Please let us croak on about how much we love frogs. In fact, we love all amphibians, and you should too. Populations of amphibians all over the world are decreasing, so they need your help.

We have some tips on how to assist these froggy friends. Simple things you can do right at home. ➡️ http://ow.ly/vb0750Nmbp6

Photo: Green tree frog by Erin Huggins/USFWS

19/03/2023

From the sky, a surprise from above
A bird's droppings, a splatter of love
A mess on my shirt, a stain so obscene
I look up to the bird, who flies off serene

Wisdom, the world's oldest known bird in the wild, is a grandmother again!
18/03/2023

Wisdom, the world's oldest known bird in the wild, is a grandmother again!

Endangered riparian brush rabbits live in the green wet habitat along the river in the San Joaquin River National Wildli...
17/03/2023

Endangered riparian brush rabbits live in the green wet habitat along the river in the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge in California. This year's wet winter flooding has been chasing the rabbits to islands of high ground where they can be vulnerable to birds of prey and run out of food waiting for the water levels to drop. But never fear, refuge biologists are here! Armed with boats, traps and carriers, refuge staff relocated 103 rabbits trapped by the first round of flooding in January and those efforts are currently underway again this month. Find out more: http://ow.ly/YHRk50NlBLG

Photo of a riparian brush rabbit courtesy of Don Cool

Other photos by USFWS at San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex

A win for wildlife and healthy habitats!America’s wildlife and wild places will benefit as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Se...
17/03/2023

A win for wildlife and healthy habitats!

America’s wildlife and wild places will benefit as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awards $56 million among all state and territory wildlife agencies! State Wildlife Grants fund conservation projects that help protect imperiled wildlife and safeguard healthy habitats across the nation: http://ow.ly/7QKK50Nlv5x

State wildlife agencies are vital partners in conserving America’s natural resources for current and future generations. Conservation projects supported through the State Wildlife Grants Program address a variety of conservation needs, such as research, fish and wildlife surveys, species restoration, habitat management, and monitoring.

Over the past 20 years, $1.2 billion has been provided to states and territories via State Wildlife Grants. Success stories abound, including recovery efforts for Lake Sturgeon populations in the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River and the Mississippi River.

Photo of lake sturgeon by Rob Holm/USFWS.

What a lucky sight! The only place to spot green jays in the US is the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Cousins of crow...
17/03/2023

What a lucky sight! The only place to spot green jays in the US is the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Cousins of crows and ravens, these jays are even known to use small sticks as tools to find insects in bark.

Photo: Mick Thompson, CC BY-NC 2.0 flic.kr/p/2gaZuvh

"I'm just a baby!" What could be better than seeing a bison? Seeing a baby bison. Remember, the best (and safest!) way t...
17/03/2023

"I'm just a baby!" What could be better than seeing a bison? Seeing a baby bison. Remember, the best (and safest!) way to view bison is from a distance. You may start seeing spring calves at Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge in Colorado and other western refuges this month.

📷: Mike Borgreen/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Last year on this day we posted lyrics to the Dropkick Murph-bees 🍀 song about pollinating. Despite the fact that we rec...
17/03/2023

Last year on this day we posted lyrics to the Dropkick Murph-bees 🍀 song about pollinating. Despite the fact that we received comments that said, "this is a bad song" and "no one likes this song" we will be posting it again. Thank you for your continued feedback though.

🎶 I’m a hungry bee
And I need to feed
Flying through the clovers
I found my seed!

I’m sipping up some nectar (Whoa)
I’m sipping up some nectar (Whoa)
I’m sipping up
Nectar to pollinate 🎶

- Dropkick Murph-bees 🐝

📷: Rusty-patched bumble bee by Jill Utrup/USFWS

Are we supposed to eat greens today or wear green today? ☘️Photo of black bear cub by Kerry Howard (sharetheexperience.o...
17/03/2023

Are we supposed to eat greens today or wear green today? ☘️



Photo of black bear cub by Kerry Howard (sharetheexperience.org)

“My most memorable days at work are days spent in the field, where I can see and touch the ground we've worked so hard t...
16/03/2023

“My most memorable days at work are days spent in the field, where I can see and touch the ground we've worked so hard to conserve. I have been working with a great group of collaborators to try and augment the population of the endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly on the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge in California. Our release days are always memorable, but even more exciting is the follow up monitoring days when we observe adult butterflies on the refuge. The comradery and the beauty of the refuge make me smile and always remind me that this is why I pursued a career in biology and a job with the Fish and Wildlife Service.

"As a working parent, I strive to find work life balance and hope that in doing so, I am an example to others. I feel strongly about our mission and the importance of it for future generations, so I'm grateful that the time I do spend away from my family at work is focused on conserving the natural world I am so passionate about — that I want my children to appreciate and experience." - Susan Wynn

Susan Wynn is a supervisory fish and wildlife biologist who works out of our Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office in California and has been involved with endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly conservation efforts since 1998.

Address


Telephone

+18003449453

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Videos

Comments

I am against a partnership with the NRA to train hunters to kill more wildlife. We face a crisis in health and the environment because of the destruction we continue to create by destroying keystone predators and wild life. This is not a viable plan for our future.
Utterly appalling! How do you even put "Conserving the Nature of America" on the same page as "Signs MOU to Recruit, Retain and Retrain Hunters in Partnership with NRA"?

https://tinyurl.com/y55jyhot
Found it!
USFWS Member heads out on patrol at the Parker River Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island, Massachusetts on January 13th, 2021
The Arctic Refuge that is at risk of being leased off before the next inauguration.

Please oppose to opening the last 5% of Alaska's North Slope to oil and gas exploration and risking the lives of threatened polar bears.

Visit the link and help !"
Great for a stocking stuffer just not for hunting but for conservation and the habitat show the love this Christmas promote habitat conservation the critters will thank you
A story about condor encounters in Big Sur and Pinnacles National Park, California:
American bison @ Custer State Park, SD
Has Wisdom the oldest banded bird been back since you posted a few years ago?
It's nuts...I'm seeing salmon in the ditch along Benson Road in Lynden and in Double Ditch near the border....and we're talking several pretty nice fish.