Which federal agency oversees the management of wildlife in the U.S.?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the federal agency responsible for the management of wildlife in the United States. This agency plays a critical role in the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife, and their habitats. One of its main tasks is to ensure the sustainability of various species, manage migratory bird populations, and preserve threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.

In addition to wildlife management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is involved in habitat restoration and conducts research to understand ecological systems and wildlife populations. They enforce federal wildlife protection laws, regulate the international trade of wildlife through enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and work collaboratively with state wildlife agencies and various stakeholders.

While the U.S. Forest Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration focus on different aspects of natural resource management and environmental science, and the Environmental Protection Agency primarily deals with environmental protection regulations and pollution control, it is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that specifically oversees wildlife management across the country.