Science

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a long tradition of scientific excellence and always uses the best-available science to inform its work to conserve fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitat for the benefit of the American public.

National Wildlife Refuges

Where Wildlife Comes First

Created in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt, today's National Wildlife Refuge System protects habitats and wildlife across the country, from the Alaskan tundra to subtropical wetlands. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Refuge System's 560-plus refuges cover more than 150 million acres and protect nearly 1,400 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

While national wildlife refuges were created to protect wildlife, they are for people too. Refuges are ideal places for people of all ages to explore and connect with the natural world. We invite you to learn more about and visit the national wildlife refuges and wetland management districts in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

Ecological Services

The Mountain-Prairie Region's Office of Ecological Services (ES) works to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend. Using the best available science, ES personnel work with Federal, State, Tribal, local, and non-profit stakeholders, as well as private land owners, to avoid, minimize, and mitigate threats to our Nation's natural resources.

Migratory Birds

Providing leadership in the conservation of migratory bird habitat through partnerships, grants, and outreach for present and future generations. The Migratory Bird Program is responsible for maintaining healthy migratory bird populations for the benefit of the American people.

Fish and Aquatic Conservation

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program in the Mountain-Prairie Region helps conserve, protect, and enhance aquatic resources and provides economically valuable recreational fishing to anglers across the country. The program comprises 12 National Fish Hatcheries.

External Affairs

External Affairs staff in the Mountain-Prairie Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides support to the regional office and field stations to communicate and faciliate information about the Service's programs to the public, media, Congress, Tribes, partners, and other stakeholders in the 8-state region.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife evolved from early-1970's concerns about low waterfowl breeding populations and annual production in the north-central United States and southern prairie Canada. A formal attempt to define the waterfowl recruitment problem and consider solutions occurred at a meeting called by the Province of Manitoba in January 1974. Following that meeting, a committee led by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources developed a course of action.

A pilot program, the Mid-continent Waterfowl Management Unit, was established in western Minnesota. A steering committee of the Wildlife Management Institute, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guided the effort.

The "Mid-Continent Project" had Four Goals:

Protect existing wetland habitat in private ownership

Create and/or restore wetland habitat on private land

Establish upland nesting cover on private land

Improve wetland and upland habitat on public land

Management activities were designed and field tested from 1978 through 1987 in a three county pilot area. In 1987, the "mid-continent project" was expanded by the Fish and Wildlife Service into an operational private lands habitat program (Partners for Wildlife) for application in every state.

The Region 6 Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program started in North Dakota in 1987 and has been expanded to all other Region 6 states since then. Partners for Fish and Wildlife's focus goes beyond waterfowl habitat.

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is a voluntary, landowner friendly, and results oriented approach to private lands fish and wildlife conservation that is proving its worth in all aspects of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's mission. For instance:

National Wildlife Refuge System
The Partners Program is recognized as having a positive impact on the Service's National Wildlife Refuge System. The Program focuses on habitat projects within watersheds of National Wildlife Refuges and Waterfowl Production Areas, thereby amplifying refuge habitat benefits.

North American Waterfowl Management Plan
North American Waterfowl Management Plan logoThe Partners Program got its start assisting with the implementation of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Today, the Partners Program continues to strongly support these efforts through wetland restoration and other habitat enhancement needs on private lands.

North American Bird Conservation Initiative
The Partners Program works with all the bird conservation initiatives, to assist with integrated bird conservation, by providing private landowners with technical and financial assistance to maintain or restore priority habitats.

Endangered Species Habitat Recovery
The Partners Program is recognized as an important habitat-based tool in endangered species recovery efforts. Through partnerships with private landowners, critical habitat for endangered species has been restored through the technical and financial assistance provided through the Partners Program.

Duck Stamps
Short-term private land agreements, easements, and fee-title acquisition are all part of an integrated habitat protection program. In many cases, short-term Partners Program agreements lead the way to permanent habitat protection with Duck Stamp funds.

Working with Native Americans
The Partners Program addresses the Service's Native American trust responsibilities by actively pursuing stream, riparian, wetland, and grassland restoration projects with numerous tribal entities in Region 6.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has "trust responsibility" to assist trabal entities in managing fish and wildlife resources on their reservations. This includes offering support to restore and enhance reservation fish and wildlife habitats.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife has taken trust responsibility seriously. Biologists are currently working with tribal governments, members, and landowners on reservations in Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. A significant, but intangible, value of this effort is renewed trust between tribes and the Service.

"In working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe can truly say that it has been a pleasure. This partnership . . . has proven itself to be very good for all parties involved. It is our sincere hope that the tribe and Fish and Wildlife may continue in this outstanding relationship for many years to come."

State, federal, tribal, and private conservation organizations use Partners for Fish and Wildlife to achieve common habitat objectives. Partners' support will remain high as long as high quality habitat projects are produced with a minimum of red tape and delay.

"Partners for Wildlife has been heralded as one of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's most accepted programs. It has turned adversaries into cooperators."

Matthew B. Connolly, Jr.
Former Executive Vice President

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

"(Partners for Wildlife) does not increase federal land ownership, regulations or condemnations. It is one of the tools required for biodiversity and ecosystem management, in which agencies recognize their stake in the treatment of resources outside the boundaries of federal ownership, and which hinges on the cooperation among federal, state, local, and private interests in the management of ecosystems."

Jean Hocker, President
Land Trust Alliance
Washington, D.C.

"(The) Farm Bureau wants to conserve true functioning wetlands and Partners for Wildlife is a program that accomplishes this. The beauty of the program is that people go into it for all the right reasons. They want to leave a legacy to their children or grandchildren or enjoy the aesthetic values associated with wetlands. The fact that private landowners control their property is one of the true benefits of the program."

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is a voluntary private lands habitat restoration program. It is a cost-share program, rather than a grants program. Therefore, there is no request for proposals and the landowner does not need to fill out a grant application to receive financial or technical assistance on their ranch or farm.

Within the Mountain-Prairie Region, the Partners program works with hundreds of private landowners to develop projects that benefit fish and wildlife species, while also helping ranchers increase their bottom-line. The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) can help improve grasslands, restore water quality, and reduce invasive species that compete with range production and health. This becomes a win-win for both the rancher and Service.