U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

The song of the summer just dropped and music critics are giving it five sea stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I'm a fish (Gonna spawn till I die)" was created and donated by the Fish and Wildlife Band. This song is all about raising awareness of fish migration, the importance of healthy fish habitat, and increasing aquatic connectivity. Check the comments for an audio-described version of this video. Video by USFWS

On this 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we wanted to highlight some recent work that was completed at William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. Accessible year-round trails can sometimes be hard to find, but the Woodpecker Loop Trail now offers opportunity for hikers of all abilities to enjoy nature on their terms - even in the rain. This $357,000 deferred maintenance project was made possible with support from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). The Great American Outdoors Act also has an upcoming anniversary! This landmark conservation law, enacted in 2020, directs about $95 million per year from energy development revenues to the USFWS for priority projects to reduce the maintenance backlog at national wildlife refuges across the country. Happy anniversary to the ADA and GAOA! #GAOAAnniversary #ADA34 Photo of the USFWS maintenance action team improving accessibility on the Woodpecker Loop Trail by USFWS

Must. Dig. Hole. Mazama pocket gophers are fossorial, meaning they are adapted to digging and live underground most of the time. These pocket gophers could fit in your pocket, but that's not where they get their name (or belong). Pocket gophers have fur-lined cheek pouches or "pockets" for transporting roots, tubers and other vegetation. Four subspecies of the Mazama pocket gopher, including this one, are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and are endemic to the South Puget Sound region of Washington. USFWS video: Z. Radmer Music: Jonathan Wright, Pond5 Video description: Close-up view of a small, brown gopher going back and forth out of a hole, removing dirt in a prairie.

Happy 34th Anniversary to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)! We’re working hard each day to ensure America’s public lands are safe, welcoming, and accessible for all. We’re dedicated to serving all Americans and connecting people near and far with nature, wildlife, and a healthy natural world. Photo of accessible boardwalk at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge by USFWS volunteer Alan Nyiri

Salmon migrations have marked time like clockwork, since the last glaciation. All salmon return to freshwater only once, putting everything they’ve got into their homecoming. Spawning is their final act before death. Their death is life-affirming: salmon bodies bring marine nutrients to the aquatic bugs their young will eat. Salmon remnants also feed stream-side trees. These trees create cooling habitat even in their own obsolescence when they fall in the water. Photo: Sockeye salmon in Alaska by Lisa Hupp/USFWS

The McCormick Place in Chicago recently undertook steps to help prevent bird collisions by installing bird safe windows. Since birds cannot see glass the way we do, they do not treat it as a barrier to avoid. Actions like this will help save the lives of our feathered friends. Every year nearly one billion birds collide with glass in the United States. While most fatal collisions happen at homes and buildings shorter than four stories tall, smaller structures like glass walkways and bus stop shelters also pose a threat. These collisions are preventable, and there are many ways we can make our homes and buildings safer for birds. Check out the comments to find additional steps you can take to make YOUR windows and glass safe for birds. Photos of installation at the McCormick Place by Brian W. Smith/USFWS

Good morning from the coneflower-covered prairie! ☀️ Narrow-leaved coneflower is native to much of the middle of North America. It thrives in medium to dry soils with full sun, typically blooming in June and July. Have you seen any coneflowers lately? 📷 Mike Budd/USFWS

Celeb spotting: THE Very Hungry Caterpillar! The endangered Behren's silverspot butterfly is found in a very limited range within Mendocino County, California. As a caterpillar, they survive solely on early blue violets aka their larval host plant! Video of a Behren's silverspot caterpillar chowing down on a violet by Clint Pogue/USFWS

It's time to learn about MEEEEEEEE. This week is all about MEEEEEEEEEE!!! Drop what you're doing and listen to the words coming out of my [small] mouth. I am: a Smallmouth Buffalo (native sucker). I am not: an invasive carp or a "buffalo carp" SMH. Catch our latest episode of Fish of the Week at https://lnkd.in/eMa_GYrn or wherever you get your podcasts (yes, we have a super nerdy fish #podcast with tons of episodes). Smallmouth buffalo enthusiasts/guests Levi Solomon and Kris Maxson join from the the Illinois River Biological Station. On deck: Blacktip Reef Shark. New episodes every single Monday. 📷 Sam Stukel/USFWS

Winner, winner turkey dinner? It can be if you participate in the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge mentored hunt program. This spring, the National Deer Association and Cherry Valley partnered up to develop the refuge's first mentored turkey hunt. This pilot program was geared towards new or novice hunters. One of the major goals of the program, is to not only break down barriers within the hunting community but to also leave participants with more knowledge and confidence about hunting wild turkey. Photo of the Cherry Valley NWR mentored hunt participants by USFWS