The Montana Ecological Services Field Office coordinates with federal and state agencies, local governments, private and non-governmental organizations, and tribes to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats within the state of Montana for the continuing benefit of the American people.

Latest News

Bull trout underwater
Service Releases 5-Year Status Review and Species Status Assessment for Bull Trout
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed a Species Status Assessment (SSA) and 5-year status review to evaluate the current protection status for bull trout in the lower 48 states (i.e., the coterminous population) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The recommendation of ‘no change’...
A silver bull trout swims among pink and green fish. The trout wears a swim cap and goggles
Endangered Species Act
Endangered Species Athletics 2024 Swimming
Competitors from the ocean come face-to-face with their freshwater challengers in the Endangered Species Athletics swimming event. These athletes have steadily trained for this day by swimming against the current and consuming a diet of raw, lean proteins and leafy greens. Now, they will see how...
Our Partners
Partners Find Non-Lethal Answers to Grizzly Bear Interactions on Montana Ranches
Wayne Slaght has spent more than 25 years learning to coexist with grizzly bears and wolves on his Montana ranch near Ovando. In those years, he has learned an important lesson that serves as his guiding principle. Government, NGO, and private partners have worked together to implement solutions...
large fish swimming upstream
Endangered Species Act
Draft Environmental Assessment for the Swan River Valley Bull Trout Recovery Project Available for Public Comment
Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing the availability of a draft Environmental Assessment for the Swan River Valley Bull Trout Recovery Project. The draft EA is open for a 30-day public comment period from Wednesday, June 12 to Thursday, July 11, 2024.
Female Grizzly Bear
Wildlife Management
As Grizzly Bears Emerge from Dens, Wildlife Managers Ask Public to Help Keep Bears Wild
As grizzly bears begin to emerge from their dens this spring in search of food, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other wildlife managers are asking for the help of residents and visitors in grizzly country to Keep Bears Wild. The Service reminds the public to remain vigilant and take...
Female Grizzly Bear
Endangered Species Act
USFWS initiates process to evaluate restoration of grizzly bears in Bitterroot ecosystem
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing a public scoping period to consider options for restoring grizzly bears to the Bitterroot Ecosystem. The Service will assess the potential impacts of proposed restoration options in an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental...
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What We Do

Our primary activities include the oversight and evaluation of federally funded, licensed, or permitted projects to insure compliance with, or to provide comments and recommendations relative to, the Endangered Species Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Section 404 permit evaluations as defined by the Clean Water Act.  Additionally, we also provide expertise on a wide array of environmental contaminant issues affecting fish and wildlife resources.

Our Organization

A rocky shoreline of a river. The water is calm. Mist and green branches line the river.
The Ecological Services Program works to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend. Using the best available science, we work with federal, state, Tribal, local, and non-profit stakeholders, as well as private land owners, to...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA

Our Species

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is responsible for implementing the Endangered Species Act to protect and recover listed species of plants and animals native to the United States and its territories. We consult on actions authorized, funded or carried out by other federal agencies to determine the impacts of an action on listed species.  This includes coordination with federal, state, local and private entities in the preservation of listed species.  We also work with other scientists to develop recovery plans in order to identify actions necessary to conserve listed species and increase their numbers.

Location and Contact Information