The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program was established in 1987 with a core group of biologists and a small budget for on-the-ground wetland restoration projects on private lands. This successful, results-oriented program has garnered support through the years and has grown into a larger and more diversified habitat restoration program assisting more than 44,000 private landowners across the Nation.

The Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program provides technical and financial assistance to private and Tribal landowners interested in restoring, enhancing and managing fish and wildlife habitats on their land. Through a landowner agreement, landowners agree to maintain the habitat improvement project for at least ten years, but otherwise retain ownership and full control of their land.

This photo shows a project in Ovando, Montana.

Photo: Joe Milmoe, USFWS 

Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge was established for the protection of migratory birds. It is located along the Mississippi River Flyway, one of the major routes for migrating waterfowl. Key goals of the refuge are to conserve and enhance the quality and diversity of fish and wildlife and their habitats; and to restore floodplain functions in the river corridor.

Photo: USFWS 

The 2012-2013 Federal Duck Stamp went on sale today across the United States, giving hunters, stamp collectors and anyone who cares about migratory birds and other wildlife an easy way to help conserve their habitat. Ninety-eight percent of proceeds from sales of the stamp are used to acquire and protect vital wetlands supports hundreds of species of migratory birds, wildlife and plants. 

The new stamps are now available at thousands of post offices, Bass Pro Shops and other sporting goods stores and retail locations across the country, and can also be purchased online here.

Artist: Joseph Hautmann 

In honor of his predecessor, Dan Ashe, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, joined with friends, conservation partners, Service employees and Sam’s family to unveil a new sign today officially renaming Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge.

“Noxubee was the place where Sam Hamilton found his calling, and I know the special place this refuge held in his imagination,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “Just as I can’t imagine wildlife conservation without Sam’s contributions, it’s impossible to think of Noxubee without being reminded of Sam. I’m so pleased that every American will have the opportunity to come here and learn about one of our nation’s greatest conservation leaders.”

Sam D. Hamilton was sworn in as the 15th Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in September 2009, and was serving in that capacity when he died suddenly in February, 2010.  A 30-year career employee of the Service, he previously had served in a variety of positions, including Regional Director of the Southeast Region, where he was instrumental in the extensive recovery and restoration efforts required following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Interior Department’s restoration work in the Everglades.

“How fitting is it that this refuge – the place that was so near and dear to his heart with so many Fish and Wildlife memories – will now bear his name,” said Cindy Dohner, the Service’s Southeast Regional Director.  “Starkville was his home and the step we take today will ensure that his legacy and that of his family’s will be safely secured for generations to come.  We are proud to join with his family today to celebrate that legacy.

Sam’s family was joined at the ceremony by representatives of Mississippi State University, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Friends of Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Service Employees and a host of friends and current Service employees.

Hamilton began his career at Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge as a 15-year-old in the Youth Conservation Corps.  He was a native of Starkville, Mississippi, and a 1977 graduate of Mississippi State University.

The Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1940, and is located within the three Mississippi counties of Noxubee, Oktibbeha and Winston, near Starkville, Mississippi.  Its 42,500 acres of bottomland and upland woodlands provide essential habitat to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, the American alligator, bobcat, quail, white-tailed deer and wild turkeys.  In addition, 15,000 waterfowl, primarily American widgeons, gadwalls, mallards and wood ducks, winter on the refugeA variety of game species are hunted on the refuge including quail, deer, and turkey.  The endangered red-cockaded woodpecker relies on the refuge for its existence in east-central Mississippi.  In addition, many neotropical species greatly benefit from the Noxubee forests.

Photo: USFWS 

The National Bison Range in Montana is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It was established in 1908 and is one of the oldest Wildlife Refuges in the nation. As its name implies, the Refuge was established to support a population of American bison. It is home to about 350-500 of these animals. Other large wildlife found on the Range include elk, white-tail and mule deer, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep and black bear. Because of its open grasslands, the Bison Range is a place for the public to enjoy some excellent wildlife observation and photography.

Photo: Ryan Hagerty, USFWS 

In this photo, two Spotted Owl chicks rest on a tree branch in Oregon. Overall, northern spotted owl numbers have been declining 2.9% on average per year – leading to an estimated 40% decline in numbers over the last 25 years. The presumed causes of the decline are the continuing effects of lost old growth forest habitat prior to the 1990s and increasing competition from the barred owl.

Which is why this week, in compliance with an order from a U.S. District Court, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a science-based critical habitat proposal for the northern spotted owl that begins a public review process to determine what forest lands should be designated as critical habitat in a final rule that will be published in November. This proposal recommends substantially increasing active management of forests, consistent with ecological forestry principles, in areas designated as critical habitat. This week’s announcement, which identifies areas that may be considered for the final designation, also emphasizes significant benefits of excluding private lands, and that consideration along with the important economic assessment will help inform areas that will be excluded from the final designation. To learn more, click here.

Photo: Tom Kogutus - USFWS 

Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge is the oldest national wildlife refuge in Texas, and is one of a chain of refuges in the central flyway. Located on the high plains of west Texas, Muleshoe was established as a wintering area for migratory waterfowl and sandhill cranes. When sufficient water is present, the refuge hosts large numbers of sandhill cranes and a variety of waterfowl.

Photo: Wyman Meinzer - USFWS  

The Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1909. It encompasses most of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, a chain of islands and atolls stretching 1,200 miles northwest of the island of Kaua‘i. The Refuge includes a rich, varied, and unique natural, cultural, and historic legacy. Small islands and islets provide critical breeding grounds and nesting sites for endangered, threatened, and rare species that forage on land and throughout the coral reef and shallow waters of the marine environment. On June 15, 2006, the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge was overlain with a new designation as part of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

In this photo, Great Frigatebirds and Red-Footed Boobies enjoy a beautiful day in the sun.

Photo: Sarah Youngren/USFWS 

Visitors to the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge in the San Joaquin Valley in California, may be surprised to see it is home to small seasonal marsh wetlands yet what they may not know is that it has some of the last significant acres of Southern San Joaquin Valley Grassland habitat. This habitat type provides nesting, foraging, and cover for a variety of species including threatened Tipton kangaroo rat, blunt-nosed leapord lizard, and the endangered San Joaquin kit fox. During the winter months, it is the best place in the Southern San Joaquin Valley to view Sandhill Cranes.

Photo by Terry Llovet 

When Spanish explorers first saw the terraced hills northwest of what is now Austin, Texas, they named the land Balcones. These limestone hills and spring fed canyons make up most of the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge.

Photo: Matthew High