We are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the American people.

We offer a variety of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and our shared natural heritage. And through our work to conserve natural resources, we provide communities with healthier environments, clean water, flood control and a strong economy.

Achieving Our Mission

Learn about our priorities, statutory authority and functions. 

Our Mission & Vision

History of Fish and Wildlife

man (Paul Kroegel) kneeling
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior and the nation’s oldest conservation agency. Our origins date back to 1871 when Congress established the U.S. Fish Commission to study why the nation’s food fishes were decreasing and recommend ways to reverse that decline.

Though the name of our agency has changed multiple times over the years, what endures is the collective dedication of Service employees to face the conservation challenges of their day—and now, our day—with ingenuity, integrity and hard work. Fortunately, our history shows that we’ve always been up to the challenge.

Our History

Our Organization

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Our Staff
Mallards on Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge
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Our Programs
A huge smoke plume moves away from a housing development right next to a road
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Our Regions

Our Locations

Latest Stories

logo that shows a silhouette of a bighorn sheet and bird going up the side of a mountain with the text "Endangered Species Athletics"
Wildlife Wonders
Endangered Species Athletics
The premier summer sporting event of 2024 is here – the Endangered Species Athletics competition! From July 20-July 27, 2024, 16 listed species from across the United States will go feather-to-fin and leaf-to-paw in four virtual events: swimming, climbing, track and strength. And YOU get to be on...
The orange arm of a construction excavator reaches into a river to break apart a dam
Habitat Restoration
Of herring and humans
Taunton residents lived with the specter of dam failures for decades, as structures that once harnessed the Mill River’s power fell into disrepair. A wake-up call in the early 2000s led to a restored waterway that not only increases public safety but also offers river herring and other migratory...
A wood turtle with yellow highlights around the legs and neck
Our Partners
New resource provides guidance for wood-turtle friendly forest management
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Alliance of Forest Owners, and the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc., have released a new resource that provides guidance for forest managers to support wood turtles on their woodlands. The guidance document is the first landowner...
A man in waders, ballcap, and nitrile gloves holds an instrument in a river.
Science and Technology
Skin, Scales, and Scat
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service eDNA expertise harnessed by new White House strategy to explore, map and monitor aquatic life. Environmental DNA, or eDNA for short, is a tool that can be used to monitor the presence of a species in the water, on land, or even in the air. This emerging technology...
A Blanding's turtle crossing the road
Endangered Species Act
States and Territories Receive $7.4 Million in Competitive Grants to Conserve Vulnerable Wildlife
Vulnerable wildlife across the nation will benefit from more than $7.4 million in grants thanks to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Competitive State Wildlife Grants (C-SWG). Since 2008, the C-SWG program has provided over $103 million in federal grant funds to states, commonwealths,...
cluster of bats
Endangered Species Act
$48.4M for Collaborative Efforts to Conserve America’s Most Imperiled Species
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced $48.4 million in grants to 19 states and Guam to support land acquisition and conservation planning projects on over 23,000 acres of habitat for 80 listed and at-risk species through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF). The...

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See Where Your Tax Dollars Go 

Each year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service develops an annual budget justification which defines our goals, objectives, and the funding necessary to accomplish them. Once approved, funds are allocated to programs and regions, and monitored to ensure those funds are used as mandated by Congress.

View Our Budget

Do Business With Us

The mission of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. In support of the mission, the FWS procures goods and services that include: land rehabilitation; information technology resources; construction projects; professional and nonprofessional services; supplies; and environmental studies. We look forward to working with qualified, capable contractors, including small businesses.

Learn About Contracting

Work With Us

The range of career options available in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is as wide as it is rewarding. A career with us might be just what you’re looking for if you’re passionate about supporting our mission and science, water quality, nature, air quality, fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, native plants, or education. You can make a difference by bringing your unique experience, background, and perspective to our work.  

Browse Current Job Opportunities