Partnerships | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Partners are valuable allies to the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and play a vital role in meeting the Service's conservation goals. We team up with private conservation organizations, state and federal agencies and tribes. Together, with the landowner, this collective shares funding, materials, equipment, labor and expertise to meet restoration goals and our conservation mission.

Partnership Categories

Great things happen when partners are matched with the right opportunities. That's why we work with many types of partners at FWS from local businesses and conservation groups to veterans and large industry partners. Here are just a few of the Partner Categories working with FWS today.

Academic Institutions

We frequently partner with academia to further the conservation of and research into the stewardship of many species.

Conservation, Science, and Land Management Organizations

We often partner with non-governmental conservation organizations on conservation projects, whether it's to conserve identified species such as the monarch butterfly or to advise on land acquisition for conservation so that it has the greatest benefit for species.

Economic, Tourism, Retail, and Industry

We partner with these groups to help them conduct their commercial activities in a way that best promotes conservation.

Federal Agencies

We work with other federal agencies to help them meet their legal responsibilities as well as their mission.

Friends Groups

Friends groups are organizations of community members committed to helping national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries meet conservation goals that would otherwise be out of reach.

Our Partners

Here are just a few of our national partners. You can view the full list of FWS partners, along with the regions and areas of focus our work together entails.

View Full Partner List

Latest Stories About Our Partners

Our Partners

Top 5 Reasons We Love to Celebrate Military Appreciation Month

Military Appreciation Month is about recognizing service. It also gives us a chance to highlight something many people do not realize. Conservation and national defense are deeply connected.

May 1, 2026

WaterCorps Service Member holding an adult chum salmon. Fish hatchery and skyline in the background.

Our People

Story of Service: Sophia Cooper

Sophia Cooper shares her experiences as an AmeriCorps Service Member through the Bureau of Indian Affair's WaterCorps program. From snorkel surveys to spawning coho salmon, Sophia's action packed experience was a significant career primer.

Apr 24, 2026

Wildlife Management

Rebuilding Idaho's Fisher Population in the Coeur d'Alene Mountains

Idaho Fish and Game, in an act of both conservation and ecological insurance, is relocating fisher into the forests of the Coeur d’Alene Mountains. Here, among the mountain forests and dense underbrush biologists hope to boost the state’s fisher population.

Apr 23, 2026

Recreation

Earth Day 2026 at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery

Community members enjoyed the annual Earth Day event at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery with information booths, giveaways, and environmental activities.

Apr 20, 2026

Recreation

Outdoor Adventure Day at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery

Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery hosted all 4th grade students from the Russell County School District for a fun day of learning about the environment!

Apr 17, 2026

A woman sits on a rock watching sandhill cranes land in a field.

Recreation

Spring break for sandhill cranes in Colorado

Every year in southern Colorado, San Luis Valley is full of spring break revelers, but not the ones taking a break from school. Sandhill cranes have been stopping by each spring for thousands of years. These days, they rely on Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge and neighboring agricultural lands...

Apr 10, 2026