What We Do
Our Services
Our operations are guided by a Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director, and a team of Assistant Regional Directors. Meet our regional leadership.
Across the southeastern United States, we carry out the Service mission by:
- Protecting and recovering hundreds of southeastern species protected as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act,
- Gathering the best available scientific and commercial data for protected species to perform recovery actions,
- Preserving healthy habitats for wildlife and opportunities for public recreation at 131 National Wildlife Refuges,
- Investigating wildlife crimes such as wildlife trafficking and the illegal shooting of protected species,
- Producing fish for stocking across southeastern rivers,
- Conducting research on the health of southeastern habitats,
- Consulting with state and federal partners on ways to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people,
- Permitting certain public and private development activities to ensure they do not jeopardize the continued existence of endangered species,
- Proactively pursuing opportunities to conserve species at-risk of becoming listed as threatened or endangered,
- Working with private landowners to restore, improve and protect fish and wildlife habitat on their lands,
- Distributing over $250 million annually in grants to state conservation agencies, and
- Communicating and educating the American public about wildlife conservation via social media, educational programs, public hearings, and other forms of outreach.
Projects and Research
Red Wolf Recovery Program
Once common throughout the Eastern and South Central United States, red wolf populations were decimated by the early 20th century as a result of intensive predator control programs and the degradation and alteration of the species’ habitat. When the red wolf was designated endangered in 1967, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated the Red Wolf Recovery Program in an effort to conserve and recover the species. Visit Red Wolf Recovery
Miami Tiger Beetle
Early in 2014, due to the species’ extreme vulnerability and threats, the Service considered adding it to the candidate list. On December 11, 2014, the Service received a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the Miami Blue Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association, South Florida Wildlands Association, Tropical Audubon Society and others requesting that the Miami tiger beetle be emergency listed as endangered and that critical habitat be designated under the Act.
In a February 13, 2015, letter to the petitioners, the Service stated that although we determined that emergency listing was not warranted, we would review the petitioned request for listing. Visit Miami Beetle Species Profile.
How you can help
If you are a landowner with land on or near the Miami Rock Ridge in Miami-Dade County, please contact our South Florida Ecological Services Office at the address below or contact Emily Bauer, at 772 562-3909 or emily_bauer@fws.gov to learn more about Miami tiger beetles, pine rockland habitat and what you can do to help protect them.
South Florida Ecological Services Office
Contacts: Chuck Underwood