U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

This spooky season, don't forget to celebrate #BatWeek! No matter where you live, chances are high that you have bats as neighbors. These unique mammals eat insects, pollinate plants, and spread seeds. Learn more about why bats are so essential, the threats they’re facing, how we’re conserving them and how you can help. http://ow.ly/WRIl50BR4Kf Photo by Richard Jackson / USFWS

Habitat restoration is an important component of conserving landscapes for imperiled species threatened by future wildland fires. Senior biologist Chris Dellith and wildlife biologist Joseph Brandt recently visited streams near the Lake Fire burn area in Los Angeles County for a first-hand look at potential fire impacts on aquatic species and their habitats. Our role is to work collaboratively with land managers to help recover areas impacted by wildfire by guiding habitat restoration pre and post fire, said Brandt. Learn more about rare wildlife and wildland fires: http://ow.ly/WGvg50BUG9K Photos by Chris Dellith/USFWS

Visit us at one of our favorite events of the year - #P22Day! Learn from experts on how to coexist with wildlife, listen to music performances, enjoy speakers, and discover many more exhibits and activities! This free event kicks off at 11AM PT VIRTUALLY. See you there! Visual description: Graphic of a forest scene with a city skyline in the background and a variety of colorful flowers, trees, and animals including a mountain lion, deer, wolf, owl, butterfly, bobcat, fox, skunk, and frog.

Wildlife biologist Karen Sinclair shares her passion for art and reminds us about the power of patience and asking questions. She also challenges you to create some artwork of your own. Take a look! #WhatsYourPassion

Interested in working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Join our team! We're hiring a Regional Native American Liaison (GS-1035-11/12, FPL GS-13) to facilitate consultation and communication with Tribes. The full announcement, with qualifications and details about how to apply, is available at this link: http://ow.ly/gX5O50BXWoX" Photo courtesy of Chuck Szmurlo

In honor of #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth, we are taking a look back at an incredible story about Dr. Anuja Parikh, a botanist and breast cancer survivor. She played an instrumental role in collecting key data to support land managers’ and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s work to recover the San Fernando Valley spineflower, a tiny buckwheat plant once believed to be extinct in Southern California. She will not give up. When other people give up, she keeps going, said Nathan Gale, fellow botanist and husband to Parikh. To read full story: http://ow.ly/2xAP50wNUyX

We all need ways to relax and unwind. For wildlife biologist Lena Chang, this means getting in the fresh air and running outdoors. In this video, Lena takes us to one of her favorite running trails and shares why it is so special to her. #WhatsYourPassion

Meet one of our newest biologists Sarah Termondt! Sarah discusses how she discovered her passion for biology and the incredible work she has done both domestically and abroad. Learn more in our latest Faces of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service interview. http://ow.ly/JDwD50BFz2z

The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, provides vital habitat for thousands of native species, including sandhill cranes, American alligators, bison and sea turtles. National wildlife refuges offer outstanding recreation, too. #NationalWildlifeRefugeWeek, observed the second full week of October each year, celebrates the great network of lands and waters that conserves and protects Americans’ precious wildlife heritage. Refuge Week is a perfect time to see why tens of millions of Americans visit refuges each year to enjoy fishing, hunting, hiking and wildlife watching. Learn more about events being held to celebrate these important public lands: http://ow.ly/8KK750BOjSm Photo by Ashley McConnell / USFWS

Wildlife biologist Danielle Fagre knows that you don’t have to travel far to see cool critters! They are all around us! In this video, she shows us some of her coolest finds, and challenges YOU to see what kinds of critters are in your own backyard! #WhatsYourPassion

Check out this story in the Ventura County Star for the latest information on wildfire impacts to California condors in Big Sur. http://ow.ly/Q0bV50BNyub

Biologists Leilani Takano and Amy Agee talked "virtually" with students at CSU Channel Islands about the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which is the strongest law for protecting biodiversity of any nation. Within our Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office’s jurisdiction, we work collaboratively with our partners to recover approximately 100 threatened and endangered species across the central and southern California coast. Leilani and Amy also shared how they were inspired to pursue a career in conservation and how to jumpstart careers in fish and wildlife conservation, including through our USFWS Directorate Fellows Program, a fantastic program for college students that can lead to permanent positions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Stay tuned for announcements on 2021 Directorate Resource Assistant Fellows Program (DFP)!

We’re going to go out on a (mossy) limb and say that marbled murrelets have some really cool nesting habits! Instead of building traditional nests, these seabirds will use small depressions made in moss or debris as a nest to lay their eggs. Photos by USFWS