The Southeast Region carries out this mission within the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our regional office is located in Atlanta, Georgia.

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.

Latest Stories and Topics

Stories
Two birds sit on a branch
Birds are the Headliners in Music City
To celebrate World Migratory Bird Day, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated Nashville as the newest Urban Bird Treaty city. Nashville joins 30 other cities across the country that are working to create bird-friendly environments and provide people with opportunities to connect with nature...
A pond reflects the surrounding pine forest.
Survival of the 'frosties'
The frosted flatwoods salamander is a threatened species. But the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says that it should carry a more dire warning -- endangered. Hope, though, springs eternal at a Florida wildlife refuge.
a manatee floating in a tank
Endangered Species Act
It takes a village to save manatees
Nowhere in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are successful partnerships more evident than right now in manatee conservation.
a biologist holding a red wolf pup
Endangered Species Act
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Hold Public Meetings on Red Wolf Recovery Program
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold meetings to update private landowners and the general public on the Red Wolf Recovery Program, including revitalized recovery efforts for the species, the status of recovery efforts in the eastern North Carolina Red Wolf Population area, and future...
a black and white bird in flight over the ocean
Endangered Species Act
Service Reopens Comment Period on Proposed Listing of Black-Capped Petrel
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening the comment period on its 2018 proposal to list the black-capped petrel as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
a black and white bird in flight over the ocean
Endangered Species Act
El Servicio Reabre el Período de Comentarios sobre la Propuesta de Listar al Diablotín 
El Servicio Federal de Pesca y Vida Silvestre (Servicio) está reabriendo el período de comentarios sobre la propuesta de 2018 para incluir al diablotín como una especie amenazada bajo la Ley Federal de Especies en Peligro de Extinción (ESA, por sus siglas en inglés).
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Our Library

Regional Highlights

Bald Eagle Monitoring Guidelines-Southeastern US
Name
Bald Eagle Monitoring Guidelines-Southeastern US

This step-by-step guidance will help you determine if your new or intermittent activity near an eagle nest, including alternate nests, is likely to take or disturb bald eagles (a potential violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act) and measures that you can adopt to avoid that...

PDF
Sunset over water.
Wildlife, Habitats and Our Changing Climate
In the southeastern United States, changes to the climate are having profound impacts on our nation’s wildlife and habitats. In aquatic environments, evidence is growing that higher water temperatures resulting from climate change are negatively impacting cold- and cool-water fish populations...
Story
A half dozen large silver fish jumping out of the water to a height of six feet.
Invasive carp in Southeastern waters
The spread of four species of large carp—bighead, black, grass, and silver— threatens the Southeast’s renowned aquatic biodiversity and local outdoor economies. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its federal and state partners are on the front line fighting Invasive carp in southeastern waters.
Story
Wildlife Management

Projects and Research

Gopher Tortoise

In 2022, the Service determined the eastern and western portions of the gopher tortoise’s range meet the criteria of Distinct Population Segments (DPS) under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The Service found the eastern DPS no longer meets the criteria for ESA listing and therefore withdrew the eastern DPS as a candidate. The gopher tortoise is protected by state regulations range-wide. If state protections for the species change in the future, especially in the core areas of the species, a reevaluation of the adequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms may be required. Additionally, the Service confirmed that the western DPS continued to meet the definition of a threatened species under the ESA. The determination was made after a rigorous analysis of the best available scientific data and commercial information. Read more about our Notice of Findings on the Gopher Tortoise Project Page.   

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 as an endangered species in 1967, the Service initiated the Red Wolf Recovery Program in an effort to conserve and recover the species.