The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the 150 million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System of more than 551 National Wildlife Refuges and thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. Under the Fisheries program we also operate 70 National Fish Hatcheries, 65 fishery resource offices and 86 ecological services field stations.

The vast majority of fish and wildlife habitat is on non-Federal lands. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife, Partners in Flight, Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, and other partnership activities are the main ways we foster aquatic conservation and assist voluntary habitat conservation and restoration.

The Service employs approximately 9,000 people at facilities across the U.S. The Service is a decentralized organization with a headquarters office in Washington, D.C., with regional and field offices across the country.

Mission

  • Enforce federal wildlife laws,
  • Protect endangered species,
  • Manage migratory birds,
  • Restore nationally significant fisheries,
  • Conserve and restore wildlife habitat such as wetlands,
  • Help foreign governments with their international conservation efforts, and
  • Distribute hundreds of millions of dollars, through our Wildlife Sport Fish and Restoration program, in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to State fish and wildlife agencies.

 Video: This is the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

 Video: Careers at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

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 Video Playlist: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Wildlife Refuges Through the Lens
Audio described version:...
Living Monuments
Audio described version: https://youtu.be/0etfwMm9q5E The National...
The Blue Continent: Journey to Rose Atoll Marine National Monument
Audio described version: https://youtu.be/JEHGhSsCv4g Rose Atoll Marine...
Closeness to the Wild
“Hunting and fishing gives me this connection with nature that you...
Bayou Sauvage Refuge: In Concert With Nature
Audio described version: https://youtu.be/3uxvVF8O0sI Bayou Sauvage...
Nature’s Home on the Front Range
Audio described version: https://youtu.be/qlggV2Om2kc The Colorado...
These Are Your National Wildlife Refuges
Audio described version: https://youtu.be/uDmzQyvG7vE The National...
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Refuge: “A Little Green Island”
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is about 50 miles...
Reconnect with Outdoor Traditions on a National Wildlife Refuge
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled public lands...
Prescribed fire at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
Fire -- prescribed and carefully managed -- can be a wildlands’ best...
Duck Hunting at Cache River National Wildlife Refuge
Cache River National Wildlife Refuge offers unique waterfowl hunting...
Bottomland Hardwood habitat at Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge
Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge provides a stop-over location where...

National Wildlife Refuges Through the Lens

Audio described version: https://youtu.be/HqRJrh7ipvk

Photographer/filmmaker Ian Shive has traveled from the South Pacific to Florida and from Alaska to New England capturing the natural beauty of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ...