Conserving the nature of America

              U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Conserving the

Nature of America

The mission of the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service is working

with others to conserve,

protect, and enhance

fish, wildlife, plants

and their habitats for

the continuing benefit

of the American people.

Banding

Brown Pelican

USFWS Photo by:

Karen Hollingsworth

A Conservation Legacy

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

is the only agency of the U.S.

Government whose primary

responsibility is fish, wildlife,

and plant conservation.

The Service helps protect a healthy

environment for people, fish and

wildlife, and helps Americans

conserve and enjoy the outdoors and

our living treasures. The Service’s

major responsibilities are for

migratory birds, endangered species,

certain marine mammals, and

freshwater and anadromous fish.

Over 125 Years of Service

The Service’s origins date back

to 1871, when Congress established

the U.S. Fish Commission to study

the decrease of the nation’s food fishes

and recommend ways to reverse the

decline. Meanwhile, in 1885, Congress

created an Office of Economic

Ornithology in the Department of

Agriculture. The office studied the

food habits and migratory patterns

of birds, especially those that had

an effect on agriculture. This office

gradually grew in responsibilities and

went through several name changes

until finally renamed the Bureau

of Biological Survey in 1905.

In addition to studying birds and

mammals, the Survey’s responsibilities

included managing the nation’s first

wildlife refuges, controlling predators,

enforcing wildlife laws, and conserving

Who We Are...

Brown Bear

USFWS Photo by:

Larry Aumiller

Mallard

USFWS Photo by:

Erwin & Peggy Bauer

dwindling populations of migratory

birds. The Bureaus of Fisheries and

Biological Survey were transferred to

the Department of the Interior in

1939. In 1940, they were combined and

named the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Further reorganization came in 1956

when the Fish and Wildlife Act created

the United States Fish and Wildlife

Service and established two bureaus,

Sport Fish and Wildlife and

Commercial Fisheries. In 1970, the

Bureau of Commercial Fisheries was

transferred to the Department of

Commerce and renamed the National

Marine Fisheries Service.

For many years the Service was the

principal federal wildlife and fisheries

research agency. In the 1940’s, Service

research biologists conducted some of

the first investigations into the effects

of the pesticide DDT in wildlife.

Service researchers also revealed the

life cycle of the parasite that causes

whirling disease in trout. In addition,

Service biologists developed many of

the captive breeding techniques that

have benefitted such rare species as

whooping cranes, California condors

and black-footed ferrets. The Service’s

research function briefly became an

independent agency and was

eventually reorganized as part of the

U.S. Geological Survey in 1996.

Notable former employees include

Jay N. “Ding” Darling, designer of the

first Federal Duck Stamp, and Rachel

Carson, author of Silent Spring.

Today, the Service employs

approximately 7,500 people at facilities

across the country including a

headquarters office in Washington,

D.C., seven regional offices, and

nearly 700 field units. Among these

are national wildlife refuges, national

fish hatcheries and management

assistance offices, law enforcement

and ecological services field stations.

Wood Duck

USFWS Photo by:

Maslowski Photo

Over 500 National Wildlife Refuges

The National Wildlife Refuge System

is the world’s largest and most diverse

collection of lands set aside specifically

for wildlife. The refuge system began

in 1903, when President Theodore

Roosevelt designated 3-acre Pelican

Island, a pelican and heron rookery

in Florida, as a bird sanctuary. Today,

more than 500 National Wildlife

Refuges have been established from the

Arctic Ocean to the South Pacific, from

Maine to the Caribbean. Varying in size

from half-acre parcels to thousands of

square miles, they encompass more

than 93 million acres of America’s best

wildlife habitats. The vast majority of

these lands are in Alaska, with the rest

spread across the United States and

several U.S. territories.

Migratory Bird Conservation

Because many bird species fly

thousands of miles in their annual

migrations, they cannot be effectively

conserved by any single state or

nation, but only through cooperative

efforts. The Fish and Wildlife Service

is responsible for migratory bird

conservation under several laws and

international treaties with Canada,

Mexico, Japan, and the former Soviet

Union. This includes the conservation

of more than 800 species of migratory

birds. The Service regulates

migratory bird hunting and studies

populations. It also monitors and

promotes the conservation of

songbirds and other nongame species.

Biological Expertise

The Fish and Wildlife Service provides

expert biological advice to other federal

agencies, states, industry, Native

American tribes and members of the

public concerning the conservation

of fish, wildlife, and plant habitat that

may be affected by development

activities. Working through field offices

located throughout the country, Service

personnel assess the potential effects

of projects that require federal funding

What We Do...

Okefenokee NWR

USFWS Photo by:

George Gentry

or permits, such as dredge and fill

activities, dams and reservoirs, oil

leasing, energy projects, and federal

highways. Service biologists

recommend ways to avoid, minimize,

or compensate for harmful impacts

on fish and wildlife resources. Service

personnel also assess the effects of

contaminants on fish and wildlife.

Fish Conservation and Restoration

One of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service’s most important duties is to

conserve populations of fish and other

aquatic species, and to protect and

restore the habitats these species

need. Service fisheries biologists,

operating from a nationwide network

of Fish and Wildlife Management

Assistance Offices, National Fish

Hatcheries, Fish Technology Centers,

and Fish Health Centers, have a

wealth of expertise in aquatic resource

conservation. Through its efforts, the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service helps

safeguard fisheries worth billions

of dollars, rescues troubled aquatic

species on the brink of extinction,

and provides opportunities for anglers

and others to enjoy the outdoors.

Endangered Species Recovery

Another major function of the Fish

and Wildlife Service is the identification

and protection of endangered species.

About 1,200 domestic species are

currently on the federal list of

endangered and threatened species.

As part of their responsibilities,

Service biologists work with scientists

Newly Hatched

Salmon

USFWS Photo

Striped Bass

USFWS Photo by:

Ashton Graham

from other federal and state agencies,

universities, Native American tribes

and private organizations to develop

“recovery plans” that identify actions

needed to save listed species and restore

their numbers. Recovery programs may

include research, habitat preservation

and management, captive breeding, law

enforcement, reintroduction of depleted

species into suitable areas of their

historic range, and other activities.

Conserving Ecosystems

Through its “ecosystem approach”

adopted in 1994, the Service works to

achieve landscape-level conservation of

fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats

through coordination among all Service

programs and field stations, and

through partnerships with other

agencies, organizations and individuals.

The Service identified 53 ecosystem

units based on U.S. Geological Survey

watersheds and has established teams

to address important conservation

issues in each ecosystem.

Partnerships

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife

program works with private

landowners who want to restore fish

and wildlife habitat. Since 1987, the

Service has established nearly 20,000

cooperative agreements with private

land owners to restore habitat on

private land. So far, partners in the

program have restored more than

400,000 acres of wetlands, 300,000

acres of native prairie and grassland,

and 2,000 miles of stream-side

corridors. In recent years, the Service

has maintained a waiting list of

Mexican Wolf

USFWS Photo by:

Jim Clark

Co-op Farming

USFWS Photo by:

Karen Hollingsworth

approximately 2,000 landowners

nationwide interested in this cost-shared

program.

Working Around the World

The Service conserves fish and wildlife

worldwide under some 40 treaties,

statutes, and agreements. The Service

also cooperates with other countries on

wildlife research and management

programs, and responds to requests from

foreign countries for technical assistance.

The Service’s goal is to help cooperating

countries develop their conservation

capabilities in order to meet their own

environmental goals and needs on a

sustainable basis. Among the Service’s

international programs are graduate

education programs for fish and wildlife

managers in Latin America,

environmental education in the Near

East, Asia, Africa, and Latin America,

and special conservation efforts for tigers,

rhinoceroses, and African elephants.

The Service also works with other

countries to preserve their native

wildlife and plants through the

Convention on International Trade

in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna

and Flora (CITES). The United States

is one of more than 145 countries that

now belong to this international treaty

aimed at preventing overexploitation

of rare wildlife from commercial trade.

Law Enforcement

The Service’s Law Enforcement

operations support the entire range

of its wildlife conservation programs.

Monarch

on Common

Milkweed, Edwin

B. Forsythe NWR

USFWS Photo by:

Karen Hollingsworth

Illegal Wildlife

Products

USFWS Photo by:

Carl Zitzmann

Service special agents and wildlife

inspectors enforce wildlife laws and

treaty obligations. Special agents

investigate cases ranging from

individual migratory bird hunting

violations to large-scale poaching

and illegal trafficking in protected

wildlife. Working in cooperation with

U.S. Customs and Department of

Agriculture inspectors, Service

wildlife inspectors monitor wildlife

trade and stop illegal shipments

of protected plants and animals.

The Service operates the world’s

most comprehensive wildlife

forensics laboratory, where Service

experts analyze evidence to help

investigators solve wildlife crimes.

Helping Tribes, States and Citizens

In accordance with its 1994

Native American policy, the

Service maintains a government

to government relationship

and observes federal trust

responsibilities with the Indian

community. Through cooperative

agreements, memoranda of

understanding, and other

relationships, the Service works

with Native American tribes to help

conserve wolves and other species,

operate fish hatcheries, and

manage migratory birds. In all its

programs, the Service strives to

respect the cultural values of the

Checking

Hunting License

USFWS Photo by:

Tupper Blake

Fishing -

Help Our Kids

Catch a Dream

USFWS Photo by:

Carl Zitzmann

Indian community and recognize

the individuality and sovereignty

of each Indian nation.

Two additional laws administered

by the Fish and Wildlife Service —

the Federal Aid in Wildlife

Restoration Act and the Federal Aid

in Sport Fish Restoration Act —

provide federal grant money to

support specific projects carried out

by state fish and wildlife agencies.

The money comes from federal excise

taxes paid by hunters, anglers and

boaters on sporting arms and

ammunition, archery equipment,

sport fishing tackle, motorboat fuels

and import duties on fishing tackle

and pleasure boats.

States use the funds to acquire land

for wildlife habitat and for fishing

and other recreation; conduct research;

provide access to hunting, fishing, and

boating areas; manage and maintain

fish and wildlife habitats; and carry

out hunting safety training and

aquatic education.

Career Opportunities

Working for the Fish and Wildlife

Service is more than a career. It is

also a commitment—one shared by

more than 7,500 men and women

representing a wide range of

professions, trades, and specialties.

To accomplish its mission, the Service

employs many of the country’s best

biologists, wildlife managers, engineers,

realty specialists, law enforcement

Partnerships

Yield Greater

Benefits for All

USFWS Photo by:

Ryan Hagerty

Sandhill

Crane Colt

USFWS Photo by:

William Radke

agents, and others working to assure

that future generations of Americans

will be able to enjoy nature’s beauty

and bounty. For information on working

for the Service, contact the Regional

office nearest you.

Opportunities for the Public

Thousands of Americans volunteer with

the Service each year. Working side-by-side

with Service employees, volunteers

serve as tour guides and educators and

help with management activities such

as bird banding, habitat restoration,

wildlife population surveys, building

trails, and staffing visitor centers. Many

citizens also join “Friends” groups that

support national wildlife refuges in

their community. There are also many

opportunities for citizens to comment

on major Service actions and the

development of management plans for

Service facilities. To learn more, check

our web site or contact a Service office

near you.

Big Horned

Sheep

USFWS Photo by:

Karen Hollingsworth

Louisiana Black

Bear Research

USFWS Photo by:

Mark Chesna

Volunteer

on Refuge

USFWS Photo by:

Karen Hollingsworth

Northern Flicker

USFWS Photo by:

Denny Bingaman

Red Wolf Pups

USFWS Photo by:

George Gentry

Sandhill Cranes,

Bosque del Apache

USFWS Photo by:

Virginia Heitman

Laws We Carry Out

The Fish and Wildlife Service

administers and enforces a number

of conservation laws and treaties.

Among them are:

  The Lacey Act, (1900) which

prohibits the interstate or

international shipment of illegally

taken wildlife.

  The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, (1918)

which bans the take, possession,

purchase, sale, or barter of any

migratory bird, including feathers,

parts, nests, or eggs.

  The Migratory Bird Hunting and

Conservation Stamp Act, (1934)

which requires all waterfowl hunters

age 16 and over to possess a Federal

Duck Stamp.

  The Federal Aid in Wildlife

Restoration Act, (1937) which

provides Federal excise taxes on

hunting equipment to state fish and

wildlife agencies for restoration of

wild birds and animals; acquisition,

development and management of

wildlife habitats; hunter education

and development and management

of shooting ranges.

  The Eagle Protection Act, (1940)

which prohibits the import, export,

take, sale, purchase, or barter of

bald and golden eagles.

  The Federal Aid in Sport Fish

Restoration Act, (1950) which

provides federal excise taxes on

fishing and boating equipment to state

fish and wildlife agencies for sport fish

management, boating access, and

aquatic education projects.

  The Endangered Species Act, (1973)

which provides for the listing,

protection and recovery of

endangered and threatened fish,

wildlife and plants.

Law Enforcement

USFWS Photo by:

Karen Hollingsworth

Environmental

Education

USFWS Photo by:

Karen Hollingsworth

Seized Cockatoos

USFWS Photo by:

Steve Hillebrand

Manatee

USFWS Photo by:

James Powell

  The Marine Mammal Protection

Act, (1972) which establishes a

moratorium on the taking and

importing of marine mammals,

such as sea otter, walrus, polar

bear, dugong, and manatee.

  The Convention on International

Trade in Endangered Species of Wild

Fauna and Flora (CITES), (1975)

which regulates the importation,

exportation, and re-exportation of

thousands of species protected under

its three appendices.

  The Wild Bird Conservation Act,

(1992) which addresses problems

with the international trade in wild-caught

birds.

  The National Wildlife Refuge System

Improvement Act, (1997) which

establishes wildlife conservation as the

fundamental mission of the refuge

system. The Act also recognizes

wildlife-dependent recreational uses

involving hunting, fishing, wildlife

observation and photography, and

environmental education and

interpretation as the priority public

uses of the Refuge System.

Conservation

is for Today

and the Future

USFWS Photo by:

Carl Zitzmann

Conserving the Nature of America

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

helps protect a healthy environment

for people, fish and wildlife, and

helps Americans conserve and enjoy

the outdoors.

Why We Do It...

Wildlife Observation

USFWS Photo by: Karen Hollingsworth

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

USFWS Photo by: Anja Burns

Canoeing on Refuge

USFWS Photo by: Ryan Hagerty

Pelicans at Sunset

USFWS Photo by: George Gentry

Waterfowl Hunting

USFWS Photo by: Mike Hemming

American Toad

USFWS Photo by:

Karen Hollingsworth

Bluebells

USFWS Photo by: Jim Clark

For More Information

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Headquarters

U.S. Department of the Interior

1849 C Street, NW

Washington, DC 22040

202/208 5634

www.fws.gov

Pacific Region

911 NE 11th Avenue

Portland, Oregon 97232 - 4181

503/231 6121

Southwest Region

500 Gold Avenue, SW Room 3018

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102

505/248 6911

Great Lakes - Big Rivers Region

Federal Building - 1 Federal Drive

Fort Snelling, Minnesota 55111- 4056

612/713 5360

Southeast Region

1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 410

Atlanta, Georgia 30345

404/679 7289

Northeast Region

300 Westgate Center Drive

Hadley, Massachusetts 01035 - 9589

413/253 8322

Mountain - Prairie Region

134 Union Boulevard

Lakewood, Colorado 80228

303/236 7905

Alaska Region

1011 East Tudor Road

Anchorage, Alaska 99503

907/786 3309

To reach any of the Regional Offices

go to: http://offices.fws.gov

CA, HI, ID, NV,

OR, WA, and

Pacific islands

AZ, NM, OK, TX

IL, IN, IA, MI,

MN, MO, OH, WI

AL, AR, FL, GA,

KY, LA, MS, NC,

SC, TN, PR, VI

CT, DE, DC, ME,

MD, MA, NH,

NJ, NY, PA, RI,

VT, VA, WV

CO, KS, MT, NE,

ND, SD, UT, WY

AK

Where We Are

Sandhill Crane

USFWS Photo by:

Tupper Blake

“Equal opportunity to participate and benefit from program and activities

of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is available to all individuals regardless

of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.

For information contact the U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Equal

Opportunity, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240.”

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Department of the Interior

1849 C Street, NW

Washington, DC 20240

1 800/344 WILD

http://www.fws.gov

September 1999

USFWS Photo by: Dave Menke