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2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest
Phone: 612-713-5360 |
Who We Are
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
The vast majority of fish and wildlife habitat is on lands not owned by the federal government. Partnerships with Native American tribes, state and local governments, nongovernment organizations and private citizens are critical to the Service fulfilling our mission. Programs such as Partners for Fish and Wildlife, Partners in Flight, the Coastal Program, and partnership activities with individuals are the primary mechanisms for assisting in voluntary habitat restoration on non-Service lands and fostering conservation practices throughout the Region.
The Service manages the 95 million acre National Wildlife Refuge System that consists of 545 National Wildlife Refuges and thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. The Service also carries out its mission through the 81 ecological services field stations, 69 national fish hatcheries, and 63 fish and wildlife management offices located nationwide.
The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores fish and wildlife habitat such as wetlands, administers the Endangered Species Act, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. The Service also administers a number of grant programs that promote the restoration of fish and wildlife resources and their habitat on tribal and private lands.
The Service also oversees the Federal Assistance program that distributes federal excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state natural resource agencies. This program is a cornerstone of the nation’s wildlife management efforts, funding fish and wildlife restoration, boating access, hunter education, shooting ranges and related projects across America.
Approximately 7,500 people are employed by the Service at facilities across the United States. It is a decentralized organization with a headquarters office in Washington, D.C., seven geographic regional offices, and nearly 700 field units.
The Midwest Region of the Service includes field offices in 8 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Quick facts
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Employment: 1,088 people
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Acres Managed: 1.29 million
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The Fiscal Year 2006 Budget for Regional Service activities totaled $86 million
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More than 7.7 million people visited Refuges throughout the Region to hunt, fish, participate in interpretive programs, and view wildlife
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More than 150,000 school children participated in Service educational programs
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130,655 acres of wetlands restored
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483 miles of streams restored
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105,747 acres of upland habitat restored
The Region is Committed to:
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Expanded partnerships offering innovative opportunities to enhance the Region
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Healthy fish and wildlife trust species populations and habitats to support them
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Providing the public with quality hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, and other wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities on Service lands
Regional Programs and Offices
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55 National Wildlife Refuges
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12 Wetland Management Districts
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More than 300,000 acres in waterfowl production areas
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6 National Fish Hatcheries
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6 Fishery Resources Offices
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2 Sea Lamprey Control Stations
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8 Private Lands Offices
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9 Ecological Services offices
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18 Law Enforcement offices Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin
Federal Assistance Program
In Fiscal Year 2006, the Region’s Federal Assistance Office managed $153 million to help strengthen sport fish and wildlife restoration programs throughout the eight-state region.
