Working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

What's going on at FWS

With more than 560 National Wildlife Refuges, 70 national fish hatcheries, numerous regional and field offices across the country and thousands of active conservation projects, the nearly 8,000 employees of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have a lot going on. Here are a few of the latest news stories from across the Service...

Aerial view of a dam in a dark river with green grass on both side
Habitat Restoration
Restoring Michigan’s Flint River
Kids swimming on a hot day, kayaks paddling downstream and dog-walkers strolling along the river trail – an active community is a healthy community. We believe that nothing gets active communities in the flow of recreation like a river. Take the community around the University of Michigan-Flint...
A mixed grass prairie blooming in red, yellow, purple and white abuts a rocky oak scrubland in the distance
Our People
Remembering Lynn Greenwalt, Former FWS Director and Conservation Hero
On March 20, 2025, former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director, Lynn Adams Greenwalt passed away at the age of 94. Lynn was raised within the National Wildlife Refuge System and during his long career oversaw some of our nation’s most beautiful and remote places before ultimately running the...
Bangor High School student with wood turtle head-start
Wildlife Management
Schooling for turtles
Students from two local schools are helping a national wildlife refuge in Pennsylvania conserve a rare turtle species. The newly-established headstarting program will teach conservation skills to local youth while also increasing survival rates of young wood turtles.
A view into the woods of trees with vibrant red and orange leaves
Our Partners
Forests that work for people and wildlife
Through the Wildlife Conservation Initiative, we partner with willing private landowners on research and strategic conservation to help keep forests and their inhabitants healthy.
a school of fish swimming in the ocean over a reef community
Anything but a fish tale
People, notoriously, stretch the truth in fishing stories. A fisherman’s catch is always the biggest ever seen, and “the one that got away” would have shattered records. However, one fishing story is completely factual: Sport Fish Restoration funds drive the success of the Georgia Coastal Resources...
A monarch butterfly sips nectar from a swamp milkweed flower
Endangered Species Act
Comment period reopened for monarch butterfly listing proposal
We are reopening the public comment period for a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The proposed rule includes species-specific protections and flexibilities to encourage conservation of the butterfly under section 4(d) of the ESA....

Our Focus

The history of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can be traced back to 1871. We are the only federal government agency whose primary responsibility is to manage fish and wildlife resources in the public trust for people today and future generations. Here are just a few of our focus areas...

What We Do For You

If you’re looking for places to experience nature; interested in partnering with us; seeking technical advice, permits, grants, data or scientific research; want to know more about today’s conservation challenges; looking for ways on how you can get involved and make a difference -- the Service has a lot to offer and more…

Visit Us - Our Locations

With more than 560 national wildlife refuges, dozens of national fish hatcheries and more than 100 field offices, there are numerous great U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service locations to visit.