Images

Habitat change from wildfire and forest restoration treatments can influence habitat conditions for mule deer, elk, mountain lions, and black bears in New Mexico. We are teaming up with our cooperators and partners to design better restoration treatments that reduce wildfires and improve habitat conditions for wildlife.

Habitat change from wildfire and forest restoration treatments can influence habitat conditions for mule deer, elk, mountain lions, and black bears in New Mexico.

Habitat change is putting iconic wildlife such as mule deer, elk, mountain lions, and black bears at risk in the western U.S.

Tagged walleye from the Escanaba River, Michigan. The Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit (WICFRU) is working extensively with the Wisconsin and Michigan Departments of Natural Resources to better understand spawning locations and distribution of walleyes in Green Bay.

In Navajo culture, the American black bear holds deep significance, symbolizing strength, protection, and a sacred connection to nature and the spiritual world. Little is known about bear ecology in the area or how they interact with humans.

In Navajo culture, the American black bear holds deep significance, symbolizing strength, protection, and a sacred connection to nature and the spiritual world. Little is known about their ecology or how they interact with humans in Arizona.

In Navajo culture, the American black bear holds deep significance, symbolizing strength, protection, and a sacred connection to nature and the spiritual world. Little is known about their ecology or how they interact with humans in Arizona.

Arctic-breeding shorebirds have experienced widespread population declines in recent decades. These declines are occurring even though Arctic nesting grounds are relatively undisturbed by human infrastructure and fragmentation, although future infrastructure expansion poses a threat to breeding birds.

Arctic-breeding shorebirds have experienced widespread population declines in recent decades. These declines are occurring even though Arctic nesting grounds are relatively undisturbed by human infrastructure and fragmentation, although future infrastructure expansion poses a threat to breeding birds.

Aaron Yappert is a master’s student at Iowa State University in the USGS Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. His research focuses on the movement ecology of Dunlin, a medium-sized shorebird, on the breeding grounds in northern Alaska.

Arctic-breeding shorebirds have experienced widespread population declines in recent decades. These declines are occurring even though Arctic nesting grounds are relatively undisturbed by human infrastructure and fragmentation, although future infrastructure expansion poses a threat to breeding birds.

Arctic-breeding shorebirds have experienced widespread population declines in recent decades. These declines are occurring even though Arctic nesting grounds are relatively undisturbed by human infrastructure and fragmentation, although future infrastructure expansion poses a threat to breeding birds.

In January 2025, Sammy accepted the CRU Regional Unit Supervisor for the Northeast Region. Unit scientists and unit supervisors work with cooperators to help them identify their needs, and unit 
supervisors ensure that all research conducted is aligned with the USGS mission. 

Margot Breiner, MS student, using telemetry to re-locate a boreal toad. Boreal toads, once common in the Rocky Mountain region, have experienced significant population declines. These declines are linked to habitat loss and infection by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

Boreal toads, once common in the Rocky Mountain Region have experienced significant population declines. These declines are linked to habitat loss and infection by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. This boreal toad pictured is from the La Barge Creek watershed in Wyoming. 

A bucket full of crawfish frogs captured at their breeding wetland in Arkansas to better understand their habitat requirements.

Conor is the Assistant Unit Leader of the Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Conor's research focuses population assessment and predictive modeling to support decision making for both harvested species and imperiled species.

Crawfish frog in its breeding wetland, this frog was captured and outfitted with radio-transmitters to understand how far from the wetlands they travel after breeding season ends.

A crawfish frog in its breeding wetland. We attached radio-transmitters to the crawfish frogs to understand how far from the wetlands they travel after breeding season ends. The crawfish frog is rapidly declining across its range. This unique species lives primarily in upland habitats and relies on crayfish/mammal burrows. 

Chiricahua leopard frog breeding site, Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, Arizona. American bullfrogs are causing big problems for native wildlife in Arizona. These non-native frogs are a threat to species like the federally threatened Chiricahua leopard frogs. 

Invasive American bullfrogs are a big threat to our native wildlife in southeast Arizona, including some endangered reptiles and amphibians like Chiricahua leopard frogs and northern Mexican garter snakes. These bullfrogs can spread quickly and reproduce easily, making it tough to manage their population.