We administer the Endangered Species Act, working with experts in the scientific community to identify species on the verge of extinction and to build the road to recovery to bring them back. We work with our partners in federal and state agencies, tribes, local governments, the business community, and private citizens, to help protect important habitat, and help increase species' populations and reduce the threats to their survival so that they can be removed from federal protection.

Latest News

Portrait of a hellbender under water
Endangered Species Act
Proposal to list the eastern hellbender as endangered
Today, we announced a proposal to list the eastern hellbender as an endangered species throughout its range under the Endangered Species Act. Eastern hellbenders are found in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania...
Brown and black striated freshwater mussels sitting a steel truck bed
Endangered Species Act
Proposing critical habitat for four mussel species
We're proposing to designate critical habitat for four species of endangered freshwater mussels. Habitat for the rayed bean, sheepnose, snuffbox and spectaclecase mussels can be found in 17 states in the central and eastern United States. We're proposing to designate a total of 3,974 river miles of...
A woodpecker perched on a tree with a bug in its mouth.
Endangered Species Act
Downlisting of Red-cockaded Woodpecker from Endangered to Threatened
The Department of the Interior today announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is downlisting the red-cockaded woodpecker from endangered to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. This milestone is the result of five decades of collaborative conservation efforts between the...
Northern long-eared bat roosting
Endangered Species Act
Conservation and Cooperation
The recent reclassification of the northern long-eared bat under the Endangered Species Act and the proposed listing of the tricolored bat presented U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff with a novel and immense task: Identify conservation actions that benefit bats and people at a massive scale –...
Biologist holds Bethany Beach firefly to confirm species markings
Endangered Species Act
Service proposes protections for the Bethany Beach firefly
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined the Bethany Beach firefly — a nocturnal beetle found in coastal Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia — is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future due to existing and emerging threats.
close up of a freshwater mussel laying in a person's hand
Endangered Species Act
Public Invited to Comment on Slabside Pearlymussel Draft Recovery Plan
The public can now view and comment on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s draft recovery plan for the endangered slabside pearlymussel, a freshwater mussel which helps protect water quality by filtering out pollutants, algae, and harmful bacteria.
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About Us

The Virginia Ecological Services Office is located in Gloucester, Virginia. We have an office located in Abingdon, Virginia (Southwestern Virginia Ecological Services Office) and two biologists located remotely at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.

What We Do

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist in waders stands along the edge of a wide stream works to secure bags of oyster shells on the edge of Newmarket Creek in Hampton, Virginia.
Image Details
USFWS biologist creates a living shoreline by placing bags of oyster shells on the edge of Newmarket Creek in Hampton, VA.

The Virginia Ecological Services Office works with partners to recover threatened and endangered species, investigates the effects and clean-up of contaminants and helps restore polluted habitats, ensures that fish and wildlife resources are considered by agencies during project planning and structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.

Learn more about structure construction, and partners with private landowners to restore fish and wildlife habitats.

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
Close up of a California condor. Its pink featherless head contrasts with its black feathers.
We provide national leadership in the recovery and conservation of our nation's imperiled plant and animal species, working with experts in the scientific community to identify species on the verge of extinction and to build the road to recovery to bring them back. We work with a range of public...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
A duck flies over a tundra pond.
We use the best scientific information available to determine whether to add a species to (list) or remove from (delist) the federal lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. We also determine whether already listed species should be reclassified from threatened to endangered (uplist...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
Condor soars over mountain ridge.
We work with partners to conserve the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend, developing and maintaining conservation programs for these species to improve their status to the point that Endangered Species Act protection is no longer necessary for survival. This...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
Butterfly with orange, brown, and white wings perched perched on a flower head gathering nectar with another butterfly on the backside of the flower head.
We assess the conservation status of species, using the best scientific information available, and identify those that warrant listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. A species that we find warrants a proposal to list as endangered or threatened, but listing is...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
Partners for Fish and Wildlife: Nevada Coordinator Susan Abele Meets with Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Member to Conduct a Site Visit at Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides free technical and financial assistance to landowners, managers, tribes, corporations, schools and nonprofits interested in improving wildlife habitat on their land. Since 1987, we have helped more than 30,000 landowners to complete more than 50,...
Program
Wading bird stands in oil damaged marsh.
We provide national leadership in the protection and restoration of fish, wildlife, and habitats that have been threatened or injured by oil discharges, releases of hazardous substances, or other emerging contaminants of concern.
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA

Location and Contact Information