By Eric Klingberg, an intern with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Western Washington Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office. A building full of dead fish was my moment of realization. That’s when I knew I wanted to work in fisheries. While taking a class at the University of Hawaiʻi at…

By Jan Peterson, for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific Region Sometimes in solving a problem, you create a bigger one. Such was the case in 1985, when a wood log trestle bridge spanning the South Fork Tieton River in Yakima County, Washington, was failing. The county and federal…

By Amanda Smith, public affairs officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific Region. Lorianna Breiler speaks with a smile audible in her voice when she talks about the future of her family on Badger Mountain in Douglas County, Washington. “We don’t think of this land as ours. We think of…

By Brent Lawrence and Amanda Smith, public affairs officers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific Region. Water is at a premium in the West. Every drop of it matters to the multiple end users, ranging from Tribes to towns, and farmers to fish. Nobody appreciates the value of water more…

By Juliette Fernandez, refuge manager, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex I didn’t grow up hunting. I was more inclined to hop out of a moving vehicle like an action hero to save a crossing tarantula. When I started as the new refuge manager at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in 2020…

By Lev Levy, public affairs officer, Pacific Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Scales and feathers. Water and air. Fish and, well, fowl. Yellowstone cutthroat trout and American white pelicans are an unlikely duo for conservation. They both inhabit the Blackfoot Reservoir, a sagebrush and sun-soaked angling and…

By Leah Schrodt, Interpretive Specialist, US Fish and Wildlife Service — Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office When it comes to combatting climate change, we can thank many people’s favorite animal for their help — the sea otter! Sea Otters are an Ecosystem Hero This federally protected species isn’t just an adorable, charismatic, swimming furball, it also plays an essential role in maintaining nearshore ecosystems. All living things are interdependent upon one…

Wildlife biologist connects early tree climbing to her current work with reclusive red tree vole — By Amanda Smith, public affairs officer, Pacific Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Blogger’s note: Red tree voles are charismatic and mysterious. These little furballs live primarily in Oregon’s old forest treetops, and eat a scrumptious diet of conifer needles. They are rarely seen with human eyes, but…

By: Venecia Rollins, MANRRS Intern, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Applications Program in Portland, Oregon. This summer, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Science Applications Program had the pleasure of hosting Venecia Rollins as their MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) intern. Originally from Wisconsin…