United States Fish and Wildlife Service facts for kids

"FWS" redirects here. For other uses, see FWS (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Agency overview
Seal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Flag of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Formed	Fish and Wildlife Service: June 30, 1940; 84 years ago (1940-06-30) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: 1956; 69 years ago
Preceding agency	Bureau of Fisheries
Jurisdiction	United States Federal Government
Headquarters	Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia, United States 38°50′44″N 77°07′12″W / 38.845663°N 77.120087°W / 38.845663; -77.120087
Employees	Approx. 8,000
Annual budget	$1.584 billion (FY2021)
Agency executives	Martha Williams, Director Vacant, Principal Deputy Director
Parent department	U.S. Department of the Interior

A Fish and Wildlife Service officer with her plane in Alaska in 2009.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff in uniform in 2018.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is a special agency of the U.S. federal government. It works under the U.S. Department of the Interior. Its main job is to look after fish, wildlife, and their natural homes, called habitats, across the United States.

The USFWS has an important mission: "working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people." This means they help make sure nature stays healthy for everyone.

Some of the key things the USFWS does include:

Making sure federal wildlife laws are followed.
Protecting endangered species, which are animals and plants at risk of disappearing forever.
Managing migratory birds, which are birds that travel long distances each year.
Helping to bring back important fish populations.
Saving and restoring wildlife habitats, like wetlands.
Working with other countries on conservation efforts.
Giving money to state fish and wildlife agencies to help them with their work.

Most wildlife habitats are on state or private land, not controlled by the U.S. government. So, the USFWS often works with private groups to encourage people to protect and restore habitats on their own land. The USFWS has about 8,000 employees. They work from a main office in Falls Church, Virginia, eight regional offices, and nearly 700 local offices across the country.

How Did the USFWS Start?

The USFWS was created a long time ago to help protect nature.

Early Efforts to Protect Fish and Wildlife

The story of the USFWS began in 1871 with the United States Fish Commission. This group was formed because people noticed that fish populations were shrinking. Their job was to study fish and suggest ways to help them recover. Later, this commission became the United States Bureau of Fisheries in 1903. It focused on fish science and raising fish. It also started managing fur seals and other fur-bearing animals in Alaska.

Another important group was the Bureau of Biological Survey, which started in 1885. This group studied birds and mammals. It helped people understand more about the animals living in the United States. In 1934, this bureau became very active in protecting important natural habitats across the country.

The Birth of the Fish and Wildlife Service

On June 30, 1940, the Bureau of Fisheries and the Bureau of Biological Survey joined together. This created the Fish and Wildlife Service within the Department of the Interior. This merger brought together the efforts to protect both fish and wildlife under one roof.

In 1956, the name changed slightly to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. It was divided into two main parts: one for sport fishing and wildlife, and another for commercial fishing. Later, in 1970, the commercial fishing part moved to a new agency called the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The rest of the USFWS continued its important work, becoming the agency we know today.

What Does the USFWS Do?

The USFWS has many different programs to protect nature and wildlife.

Managing National Wildlife Refuges

The USFWS manages the National Wildlife Refuge System. This system includes 570 National Wildlife Refuges. These refuges protect all kinds of habitats, like wetlands, prairies, coastal areas, and forests. They cover over 150 million acres across all 50 states. These places are safe homes for many different animals and plants.

Protecting Endangered Species

The USFWS plays a big role in protecting endangered species. They work with another agency, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), to carry out the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The USFWS focuses on freshwater fish and all other land animals and plants. The NMFS handles marine (ocean) species. If a species lives in both places, they work together.

Running National Fish Hatcheries

The USFWS also oversees the National Fish Hatchery System. This system has 70 National Fish Hatcheries. These hatcheries were first created to help fish populations that were declining in lakes and along the coast. Now, they also help:

Preserve the genes of wild and hatchery-raised fish.
Bring back native fish, mussels, and amphibians, including endangered ones.
Make up for fish losses caused by government water projects.
Provide fish for Native American communities and National Wildlife Refuges.

The hatcheries also teach people about fish and do research.

Helping Fish Move Freely

The National Fish Passage Program helps projects that allow fish and other water creatures to move easily. This often involves removing old dams or building fishways (like fish ladders). Since 1999, this program has helped open up over 61,000 miles of habitat for fish by removing or bypassing 3,400 barriers.

Protecting Migratory Birds

The Migratory Bird Program works to protect birds that travel long distances and their habitats. They want to make sure these bird populations stay healthy for a long time. They also want to improve activities like hunting and bird watching. The program helps people understand how important migratory birds are for nature and the economy. They do surveys, work with conservation groups, give grants, and create rules to protect birds. They also help educate children about wildlife conservation.

Enforcing Wildlife Laws

The USFWS has a special team called the Office of Law Enforcement. These officers make sure wildlife laws are followed. They investigate crimes against wildlife and control the trade of wild animals and plants. They also teach people about wildlife protection laws and work with law enforcement in other countries, states, and tribal communities.

Wildlife Forensics Laboratory

The USFWS runs the Clark R. Bavin National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory. This is the only lab in the world dedicated to solving wildlife crimes. It helps identify animal species from small pieces, figures out how animals died, and links suspects to wildlife crimes. It's also the official crime lab for international agreements like CITES.

Refuge Law Enforcement

Federal Wildlife Officers work on National Wildlife Refuges. They protect the natural resources, visitors, and employees on these lands. They make sure wildlife laws are followed and often help visitors who come to the refuges.

The Federal Duck Stamp

The USFWS sells an annual Federal Duck Stamp. This is a special stamp that hunters need to buy if they want to hunt migratory waterfowl (like ducks and geese). Buying this stamp also gives you free access to National Wildlife Refuges. The money from these stamps helps protect wetlands and other habitats.

Working with Other Countries

The USFWS International Affairs Program works with people and governments around the world. They focus on protecting species that are important globally. They make sure the U.S. follows about 40 international treaties and laws related to wildlife conservation.

Training for Conservation

The USFWS has a [National Conservation Training Center]. Here, USFWS employees and their partners learn how to do their jobs better and achieve the agency's mission.

Working with Native American Tribes

The USFWS works closely with Native American tribes. They respect and include the knowledge of tribal scientists in their conservation plans. This is called "traditional ecological knowledge" (TEK). It's a valuable way to understand and manage the natural world. This cooperation helps ensure that conservation decisions are made together, respecting tribal rights and sovereignty.