U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Never underestimate the power of mussels. ???? Did you know we have a Mussel Mortality Response Team? In partnership with other organizations, this team investigates pathogenic causes of mussel mortality events. Unlike fish die-offs, mussel mass mortality events can be harder to find because the shells are often found under the surface of the water. Scientists are trying to better understand the scope of these events. Freshwater mussels are one of the most endangered species in the world and the ecosystems they are found in cannot afford to lose such an important organism. Check out the comments to learn more about a critter that some call "the livers of our rivers" because of their ability to filter water. #UnleashTheScience Photo of two tanks showing the impact of freshwater mussels' pumping power. The one on the left had no mussels and the one on the right had fifteen mussels. In just 90 minutes, the mussels cleared the tank of suspended particles. Photo courtesy of D. Kreeger, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

When your chomp chomp is bigger than your stomp stomp. Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery in Louisiana recently released their first batch of gopher tortoises! For almost two years, these tiny reptiles got a head start at the fish hatchery. It's during those first years of life, that a gopher tortoise is at its most vulnerable. By providing the tortoises with food, safety and shelter, we give the little chompers a better chance of survival and a greater chance to make it to adulthood. This video of a tiny gopher tortoise munching and foraging on plants, was taken right after being released into the wild. Video by Hadley Henry/USFWS

Join our team as a FIELD SUPERVISOR (PROJECT LEADER) for our Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office in California! This is a fantastic opportunity for a dynamic and innovative leader to join our Ecological Services Leadership Team! The Field Supervisor oversees an office of approximately 50 dedicated and talented staff with responsibility for implementation of the Endangered Species Act (Ecological Services Program), communication of our work (Office of Communications), and private lands conservation efforts (Partners for Fish and Wildlife and Coastal Program). Apply now: https://lnkd.in/guiiuaGd Application closes on December 3, 2024 (potentially sooner pending on number of applicants). Photo of a beach with the Channel Islands in the distance by Ashley McConnell/USFWS. Landscape photo by Karen Sinclair/USFWS

Freshwater mussels are one of nature’s greatest natural filtration systems. Both of these tanks contain water from a nearby stream. The tank on the right contains freshwater mussels and after a few hours, the difference is clear. One mussel alone can filter 24 gallons of water in a day. By feeding on microscopic particles in the water, freshwater mussels remove vast quantities of algae, bacteria, nitrogen, phosphorus and other chemical compounds in the river. And what they don’t use is repackaged into little organic baskets of food for organisms like aquatic insects and fish. Check out how biologists are recovering a funky-named freshwater mussel called the purple bean by doing mussel health check-ups and tagging them with...dental cement? https://ow.ly/o3Fj50U9gIe

Typically found from Alaska into the Pacific Northwest in the summer and in parts of Mexico in the winter, rufous hummingbirds sometimes wander all the way east! This one was spotted in Illinois. Hummingbirds can cover great distances quickly thanks to their incredible endurance and accumulated body fat. ?? courtesy of Gordon Garcia

Sometimes we all feel a bit prickly. Lark buntings not only stand on prickly chollas, but they also often build their nests at the base of them. The cactus provides shade and protection for their nests. Photo: Renee Tressler/USFWS

We've got a neat fact for you to gobble up! Turkey might be on your mind this time of year, but DYK they play a vital role in pallid sturgeon conservation? During the pallid sturgeon spawning process, turkey feathers are used to mix the eggs and sperm together. The feathers are strong enough to stir, but soft enough to not damage the eggs. Photo: Stirring pallid sturgeon eggs and sperm at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery in South Dakota by Sam Stukel/USFWS

Meet the Redband Trout! Nerd out with us and guests from all walks of life about a new fish every Monday on "Fish of the Week" (at FWS.gov or wherever you get your podcasts). ???? ?? zoltshmack https://lnkd.in/g57ZjX3m #AllTheFish

Small program, big vision: How we are using and building evidence to move beyond crisis management in international wildlife conservation. We’re excited to share our guest article featured on Evaluation.gov! The USFWS Division of International Conservation is driving forward with a learning-first, evidence-based approach that redefines how we fund conservation for lasting impact. A big thanks to the Federal Evaluation Community, Diana Epstein, and the Evaluation Officer Council for highlighting our work to create more effective solutions for global conservation challenges. Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/vkUg50U82UX Photo of mountain gorillas in Central Africa by Dirck Byler/USFWS

We have some fantastic BFF news. No, not your BFF. The other BFFs. We are excited to announce a groundbreaking achievement in endangered species research: the first-ever birth of black-footed ferrets (BFF) produced by a cloned endangered animal! Antonia, a cloned black-footed ferret, has successfully given birth to two healthy offspring after mating with Urchin, a 3-year-old male black-footed ferret at Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. This marks the first time a cloned U.S. endangered species has produced offspring, showcasing a critical step forward in using cloning to enhance genetic diversity in conservation efforts. Check out the comments to learn more about this exciting news! #UnleashTheScience Photo courtesy of Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute