U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Vernal pool wonders! 🤩 These seasonal wetlands appear primarily on the West Coast, and portions of northeastern and midwestern states. Vernal pools come to life from winter to spring, but may be completely dry for most of the summer and fall. They provide important habitat for a variety of plants, invertebrates and amphibians. Video of a fairy shrimp swimming in a vernal pool by USFWS

On our latest Fish of the Week podcast episode you'll meet the Lake Whitefish and two guests who help Katrina and Guy dig into what it might look like to appreciate the whole fish, and not just the fillet.🐟 Catch new episodes at FWS.gov or wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast offers a week-by-week tour of interesting American ichthyofauna with guests around the country from all walks of life. Listeners journey across America and beyond learning about fish that are big and small, common and rare, beautiful and downright strange. Guests bring their perspectives about fish biology and fishing, and how fish are woven into foodwebs and the fabric of communities and cultures. Listeners walk away from each episode with practical information about how to live with, live from, discover and enjoy #AllTheFish. 🎙️🎧 📷 Ryan Grow (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Lucky to be Green You thought four-leaf clovers were rare? Try spotting all the green creatures hiding in nature. Some, like the green treefrog and green anole, match the scenery, making them nature’s version of a sneaky leprechaun. Others, like the giant green anemone, just flex their Irish spirit 24/7, with no need to blend in. May your St. Patrick’s Day be as wild and wonderful as nature itself. 📸: Green anole by Loren Merrill 📸: Aerial view of Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge by Josh Blouin 📸: Giant green sea anemone by Ken Donaldson 📸: Green tree frog by Craig McIntyre

Shrimps is bugs. This little blue heron just caught a crunchy, water-dwelling ocean cicada and is about to enjoy every last bite. You may call it a shrimp, but let’s be honest, they're bugs right? NO! Despite the popular meme from... checks notes.... 2023, shrimps are NOT bugs. While shrimp share similarities with insects, they belong to the crustacean family, uniquely adapted for aquatic life. Little blue herons are expert shrimp-snatchers, using their slow, calculated movements to sneak up on prey before striking with lightning speed. They are the patient hunters of the marsh, always waiting for the perfect moment to remind shrimp who’s boss. Photo at J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge by Bill Tucker (sharetheexperience)

First day of rifle season in Pennsylvania? That’s basically a state holiday. Schools close, towns empty, and 600,000+ hunters head into the woods. But for 12 new hunters this season, the experience wasn’t just about tradition, it was a first. Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge teamed up with the National Deer Association and the Pennsylvania Game Commission to host the first Field to Fork Mentored Rifle Hunt. The goal? Give new hunters hands-on experience in conservation, ethical hunting, and field dressing. Hunting in Pennsylvania isn’t just a pastime, it’s a connection to nature, family, and a heritage that runs deep. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/eTZjWJCY Photo of mentees and mentors by USFWS

Unbelievable seabird sounds and scenes! The sooty terns, or ‘ewa‘ewa in Hawaiian, started arriving recently on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge! Swirling swarms of aerial courtship maneuvers will be followed by the forming of a massive and dense nesting colony of as many as 75,000 pairs. These incredible seabirds are known for their ability to stay airborne for years between fledging and first breeding. Mature adults come to land on the far northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago this time of year to nest, producing just one precious egg in April or May. USFWS volunteer video: Dan Rapp

Happy 122nd Birthday to the National Wildlife Refuge System! Did you know our refuges have been around longer than: 🍞Sliced bread 🚥Traffic lights 📺Television For 122 years, national wildlife refuges have provided a place for both wildlife and people to thrive. Celebrate with us by visiting your nearest refuge and experiencing over a century of conservation in action! Photo at Seney National Wildlife Refuge in Michigan by Jenifer Selwa (sharetheexperience)

A year older, a year wiser! 🎂 Tomorrow is the National Wildlife Refuge System’s 122nd birthday! Match your birth month with an Alaska refuge. Which one did you get? Alaska’s National Wildlife Refuges are 16 of the 570+ sites in the National Wildlife Refuge System and include some of the oldest conservation units in the country. These lands and waters encompass more than 77 million acres and welcome more than one million visitors annually. They conserve America’s wildlife heritage, and ensure future generations have opportunities to marvel at our country’s wild creatures. 📸 USFWS

Federal Wildlife Canine (FWC) Teal would like you all to paws and give thanks to our K-9 Veterans today. 🐾 #K9VeteransDay Photo of USFWS "fur missile" Teal, by Missouri Department of Conservation

During sunset the Upper Lake at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada is the perfect place to see the beautiful pink and purple mountains that the Mojave Desert is famous for! Credit: USFWS