US Fish and Wildlife Service

What US Fish and Wildlife Service does

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is a federal bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior, headquartered at 1849 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. Established as the U.S. Fish Commission in 1871 and reorganized under its current name in 1940, USFWS is the only federal agency with primary statutory responsibility for the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the American public. The Service operates the National Wildlife Refuge System (570+ refuges spanning 96 million land acres and 760 million marine acres), the National Fish Hatchery System (70+ hatcheries), and maintains more than 1,000 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers across all 50 states and 5 U.S. territories, supported by nearly 8,000–9,000 employees and 100+ field offices.

The agency's core technology and product surface spans physical conservation infrastructure (refuges, hatcheries, wilderness areas) and digital/programmatic assets including species databases, GIS systems, cryopreservation facilities, and environmental monitoring systems. In June 2026, USFWS entered a Memorandum of Understanding with Colossal Biosciences to launch the BioVault, a genomic and biobanking archive designed to collect, sequence, and cryopreserve living cells, reproductive tissues, and digitized reference genomes from more than 2,300 threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Supporting products include recreation passes, hunting/fishing permits, the Federal Duck Stamp, education programs (Junior Duck Stamp, Conservation Connect, Fish of the Week! podcast), and the Partners for Fish and Wildlife habitat restoration program.

USFWS is funded primarily through annual congressional appropriations and does not generate commercial revenue. Auxiliary revenue streams — Duck Stamp sales, refuge entrance fees ($5 daily, $10 annual at Santa Ana NWR), commercial use fees ($25–$100), and special use permits — are immaterial relative to total appropriations. Distribution is direct-to-public across all 50 states through refuge and hatchery networks, supplemented by Recreation.gov for pass sales. The agency serves a diverse constituency: general public recreation visitors, hunters and anglers, conservation partners (NGOs, tribes, state agencies, landowners), and K-12 students and educators, with no meaningful customer concentration risk.

Name

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Legal name

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Website

https://fws.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1871

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal bureau within the Department of the Interior that conserves fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats across 570+ national wildlife refuges and 70+ fish hatcheries in all 50 states, serving the American public, hunters, anglers, conservation partners, tribes, and students through appropriated funding and direct-to-public programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Health & Conservation Disease Management (HLAMAJAM), Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Wildlife Deterrence & Relocation (Outdoor Nuisance Animals) (HSAIANAG)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation
• Habitat protection
• Endangered species recovery
• Federal land management
• Public recreation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Appropriations: As a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Service receives congressional appropriations to fund its core mission of conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats.
2. Duck Stamp Sales: The Federal Duck Stamp program generates revenue from the sale of duck stamps to waterfowl hunters. These stamps also provide free entry to national wildlife refuges and fund habitat conservation.
3. Recreation Fees: Entrance fees at national wildlife refuges ($5 daily, $10 annual at Santa Ana NWR), commercial use fees ($25 single visit or $100 annual for commercial groups), and nature tram fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal bureau within the Department of the Interior that conserves, protects, and enhances fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. It operates the National Wildlife Refuge System (570+ refuges spanning 96 million land acres and 760 million marine acres) and the National Fish Hatchery System (70+ hatcheries), enforces the Endangered Species Act, sells Duck Stamps and recreation passes, runs species recovery programs, and delivers conservation education across all 50 U.S. states and 5 territories.

Product overview

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operates as a comprehensive conservation agency offering a platform of interconnected products and services. The core offerings include the National Wildlife Refuge System (570+ refuges) and National Fish Hatchery System (70+ hatcheries) for habitat conservation and species recovery. Supporting services include recreation passes and permits (Duck Stamps, hunting/fishing licenses, special use permits), education programs (Junior Duck Stamp, Conservation Connect, Fish of the Week! podcast), and the National Conservation Training Center for professional development. Species conservation programs and the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provide specialized conservation tools for imperiled species and private land habitat restoration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Wildlife Refuge System A network of 570+ national wildlife refuges across the United States offering wildlife conservation, habitat protection, and public recreation including hunting, fishing, birding, and wildlife watching for the American public.
• National Fish Hatchery System A system of 70+ national fish hatcheries that supports restoration of depleted fish stocks, recovery of federally listed threatened and endangered species, and fulfillment of federal mitigation responsibilities.
• Education Curriculum and Programs Conservation education programs including Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program, USFWS Conservation Connect, Virtual Youth Fish and Wildlife Club, and Prairie Science Class connecting K-12 students and educators to nature and conservation.
• Fish of the Week! Podcast A weekly podcast providing an audio almanac to American fish species, featuring co-hosts Katrina Liebich and Guy Eroh exploring fish biology, fishing, and conservation stories across the United States.
• National Conservation Training Center A training facility near Shepherdstown, WV offering conservation lectures, broadcasts, and educational programs for the public and conservation professionals.
• Federal Duck Stamps Federal duck stamps that serve as entrance passes to national wildlife refuges while supporting bird habitat conservation through the purchase of wetlands and wildlife areas. Required for waterfowl hunters aged 16 and over.
• Passes and Permits Various recreation passes, special use permits, hunting licenses, fishing licenses, and import/export permits for accessing refuges and participating in regulated activities.
• Species Conservation Programs Programs focused on recovering and conserving imperiled species through partnerships, scientific excellence, and development of conservation leaders, including endangered species listing and recovery efforts.
• Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program A voluntary partnership program that provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners, tribes, state agencies, and nonprofit organizations for habitat restoration and conservation on their lands.
• BioVault Initiative A genomic and biobanking archive designed to collect, sequence, and preserve living cells, reproductive tissues, and genomic material from more than 2,300 threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, integrating genomic information into conservation planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Established as the 569th unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System - the Wyoming Toad Conservation Area protecting over 3,000 acres
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Colossal BiosciencesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Partnership to create the BioVault, a genomic and biobanking archive for all species protected under the Endangered Species Act. The initiative aims to collect, sequence, and preserve living cells, reproductive tissues, and genomic material from more than 2,300 threatened and endangered species. The memorandum of understanding establishes a framework for collaboration without obligating federal funds.
• Colossal FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026The nonprofit arm of Colossal Biosciences, funded by $100 million in donations since late 2024, has committed to making all genomic data generated through the partnership freely available via open-access repositories.
• The Conservation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Multi-year conservation partnership for the Wyoming Toad Conservation Area, enabling establishment as the 569th unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System and protecting over 3,000 acres of critical wetland habitat.
• Ducks UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership supporting water infrastructure improvements including culvert replacements and ditch cleaning to restore Sand Creek flows essential for the endangered Wyoming toad's breeding and recovery.
• WyoTechminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023Technical partner supporting conservation infrastructure improvements for the Wyoming Toad Conservation Area.
• Western Reserve Land ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 14-year partnership to restore more than 2,200 acres of critical wetland and upland habitat across northeast Ohio, featuring one of the region's most significant wetland restoration efforts including a rare tamarack swamp. The collaboration attracted over $3.5 million in strategic funding.
• Sacramento Valley Ecological Restoration FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead coalition partner implementing the Rockwads Fish Habitat Restoration Project on the Sacramento River in Redding, California, involving placement of over two dozen rock and timber structures for juvenile salmon and trout habitat.
• National Fish and Wildlife FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint announcement of $12.5 million in funding from the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund to support 30 conservation projects across the Delaware River watershed, benefiting ecosystems in four states.
• Tolowa Dee-ni' NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of $200,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Roosevelt elk habitat restoration in Northern California, part of $6.6 million distributed to 35 federally recognized tribes.
• Santa Ana PueblocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of Tribal Wildlife Grant to install wildlife recording devices along the Rio Grande to monitor endangered Yellow-billed cuckoos and Willow flycatchers.
• Zuni PueblocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of Tribal Wildlife Grant to assess wildfire risk at Zuni Eagle Aviary and expand its eagle rehabilitation program.
• Cochiti PueblocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of Tribal Wildlife Grant to track Bighorn sheep populations and restore habitat devastated by the 2022 Cerro Pelado wildfire.
• Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership including Cleveland-Cliffs, Erb Family Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, EPA, USFWS, and USDA Forest Service, announcing $1.6 million in grants to five projects benefiting communities and wildlife habitats in southeast Michigan.
• The Conservation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The Conservation Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the City of Hannibal, and Enbridge to convert a former limestone mine into critical hibernation habitat for federally endangered Indiana bats at Sodalis Nature Preserve.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Park Service (NPS): Sister federal land management bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior. NPS manages 400+ national parks for conservation and public enjoyment, with an overlapping mission of habitat protection, recreation, and public education on federal lands.
• U.S. Forest Service (USFS): USDA federal agency managing 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands. Direct peer in federal land management, habitat conservation, fish and wildlife stewardship, and public recreation delivery.
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Department of the Interior bureau managing 245 million acres of public lands. Comparable mission in multiple-use land management, wildlife habitat protection, and grazing/mineral permitting on federal lands.
• NOAA Fisheries (NMFS): Federal agency under NOAA responsible for managing U.S. marine fisheries and ESA-listed marine species. Direct counterpart to USFWS for marine and anadromous species (salmon, sea turtles, marine mammals), with shared Endangered Species Act authority.
• Ducks Unlimited: Major U.S. waterfowl and wetland conservation NGO and active USFWS partner. Direct collaboration on habitat restoration, with overlapping focus on migratory bird conservation, wetlands, and waterfowl hunters as a key stakeholder group.

Broad incumbents

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): USDA agency delivering conservation technical and financial assistance to private landowners. Comparable in delivering farm bill-funded conservation programs and partnering with the same agricultural and landowner constituencies that USFWS serves through Partners for Fish and Wildlife.
• The Nature Conservancy: Largest global conservation NGO, operating in all 50 states and 80+ countries. Comparable mission in land acquisition, habitat restoration, and species conservation, and a frequent co-funder and co-implementer of USFWS projects.
• National Wildlife Federation: Large U.S. conservation advocacy organization with 6 million members and affiliates. Comparable mission in wildlife conservation policy, education programs, and habitat protection advocacy at the federal level.

Emerging players

• Defenders of Wildlife: U.S. wildlife advocacy organization with 2 million members that frequently engages with USFWS on ESA listings, recovery plans, and land-use decisions. A recurring partner and frequent litigant on USFWS regulatory actions.

Regional players

• Environment and Climate Change Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service): Canadian federal agency with the closest international analogue to USFWS, managing wildlife protection, migratory bird treaties, and national wildlife areas in Canada. Direct peer in North American continental wildlife governance under bilateral treaties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/USFWS
• Facebookfacebook.com/usfws
• Instagraminstagram.com/usfwshq
• Xx.com/usfwsalaska

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments5 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about US Fish and Wildlife Service