Fish & Wildlife Service

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) facilitates the conservation, development, and management of the country's fish and wildlife resources, as well as conducts public outreach and education pertaining to the wise use of fish and wildlife resources. Housed within the Department of the Interior, FWS works with others to “conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.” To fulfill this mission, the service seeks to cultivate an ethic of environmental stewardship guided by ecological principles, scientific knowledge, and a sense of moral responsibility. The FWS's primary tasks include enforcement of the Endangered Species Act and other wildlife laws, management of the nation's wildlife refuges including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, direction of the ...