U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Hoooo whooo made that sound? This owl doesn't hoot like many other members of its family, this is the Eastern screech owl. Their call sounds like a high-pitched descending trill or whinny. Have you ever heard their call? Did it give you the willies? Photo: Melissa Cheatwood

Get to know the Saugeye! 🐟👋 It's season 6 of our podcast "Fish of the Week!" and this is the first hybrid we've featured. You'll get extensive tips how to angle for this fish, how it tastes, and what goes into producing it for fun fishing opportunities in Virginia. Katrina and Guy are joined by two guests from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Catch all-new episodes every Monday at FWS.gov or wherever you get your podcasts! 🎣 A Saugeye caught in Virginia. 📷 Virginia DWR

Ah yes. The annual emergence. On this sacred day, a groundhog emerges from the ground, squints at the world, and is immediately burdened with the responsibility of predicting the future. No pressure. Will it see its shadow? Will it not? Will it simply decide to go back underground because it’s cold and society is exhausting? All valid outcomes. What we do know: groundhogs (also called woodchucks) aren’t actually weather forecasters. They’re expert diggers, accomplished hibernators, and champions of dramatic entrances. During winter, they slow their heart rate, drop their body temperature, and snooze their way through the cold months like absolute professionals. Photo of a groundhog in West Virginia by Danielle Fumagalli (sharetheexperience)

Did you know that in 2021, archaeologists at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge uncovered the remains of a cabin that was once home to Ben Ross, the father of Harriet Tubman? Historical research indicates that Tubman herself lived at this cabin for a period of time during her childhood. This discovery is a strong reminder that the land we protect today also holds the stories of resilience and of the history that shaped our nation. Preserving places like this refuge means safeguarding wildlife habitat and the roots of America’s story as we approach the Freedom 250 celebration. #Freedom250 Photo of the night sky over Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland by Mary Braman (sharetheexperience)

As part of our Flags Across America initiative for the Freedom 250 celebration, we’re following the journey of our commemorative flag to the places where conservation has shaped America for generations. One stop brings us to the Bozeman Fish Technology Center in Montana’s Gallatin Valley. Established in 1892 as a national fish hatchery, this site has grown into a hub for cutting-edge aquatic science. The Center is where mountain views meet innovation, and research drives real-world conservation. Today, scientists here support fish hatcheries, tribal programs, and partners nationwide, advancing work on fish health, nutrition, and the recovery of sensitive native species. The Center is also home to the Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership, the only program in the country dedicated to securing FDA approval for medications essential to fisheries management and fish health. From historic roots to forward-looking science, this stop reminds us that conserving America’s waters and wildlife has always been part of who we are and part of where we’re going. Learn more about this flag stop and why it matters: https://ow.ly/baCR50Y4iRM Next up: the flag travel to Michigan’s Marquette Biological Station, where teams are working to protect the Great Lakes. Stay tuned. #Freedom250 Photo of the crew at the Bozeman Fish Technology Center by Molly Webb/USFWS

Highly territorial, extremely vocal, and undeniably cute. This is the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel. Found only in the upper elevation conifer forests of the Pinaleño Mountains of southeastern Arizona, these small squirrels feed primarily on conifer seeds. Biologists are able to estimate population size by searching for their middens (food storage piles) of cones. Even after a very dry winter and spring last year, the population has held steady. The 2025 census estimated 232 squirrels, down by two from the previous year, but within the typical population size. Learn more about this year's survey from our partners at AZ Game and Fish: https://lnkd.in/g6iNqdwe Video description: a small red squirrel stuffs its mouth full of grass and other vegetation then jumps amid tree branches. Courtesy of AZGFD.

Get to know a very neat little American catfish with a big sting...a notoriously difficult-to-detect Noturus species: Notorus gladiator / Piebald Madtom! Are you not entertained?? 🐟 Catch the latest episode of "Fish of the Week" at FWS.gov or wherever you get your podcasts! Matt Wagner, a biologist from our Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office, is our guest for this #podcast episode. A Piebald Madtom and close-up of its serrated spine. 📷 Matthew Wagner / USFWS

Annual reminder: Belted kingfisher don’t mess around. These compact and confident birds patrol U.S. waterways like they own the place, diving headfirst to catch mostly fish. As seen in this video featuring a bullfrog, belted kingfishers will hunt all types of aquatic species, even some small mammals. The birds will smash prey against hard surfaces to kill and tenderize it, making it easier to swallow headfirst. USFWS video: Mike Green

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a global leader in combating wildlife crime and works closely with other law enforcement agencies and partners to address illegal wildlife trade. Last year, a LaSalle County Deputy discovered two capuchin monkeys in a vehicle during a traffic stop between Laredo and San Antonio, Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department responded to the scene and immediately contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. The driver was taken in and confessed to smuggling the two monkeys from Mexico into the U.S. She planned to illegally sell the monkeys to a specific buyer, which would help fuel the illegal pet trade. Capuchin monkeys are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) as Appendix II and require permits for commercial trade. The driver was charged and convicted. The monkeys were taken to a sanctuary in Texas where they will be allowed to live out their lives with other capuchins in a natural environment. Wildlife trafficking is not only illegal, but it also causes incredible stress on the animals, which can lead to death. Illegally trafficked wildlife can also carry diseases that pose serious risks to human health, and their trade can fund larger criminal networks involved in drugs, weapons and human trafficking. Smuggling wildlife is a serious federal offense and may result in criminal prosecution. Penalties can include imprisonment for up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, along with additional charges under applicable law. Help combat wildlife crime — report it, don’t commit it: https://lnkd.in/epENJ_JD Photo credit: TPWD

The wolverine is a solitary carnivore known for its ability to thrive in harsh northern mountains, forests and tundra. Found across Alaska, northern Canada and parts of the northern Rocky Mountains, they travel great distances in search of food. Photo of a wolverine eating a marmot at Glacier National Park by Joe Thomas (sharetheexperience)