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Image: Louisiana Black Bear and Cubs
Louisiana Black Bear and Cubs
Louisiana Black Bear and Cubs
Louisiana Black Bear and Cubs

A Louisiana black bear and her cubs up in a tree. USGS science on population demographics, population viability, and relocation efforts were used to inform the 2016 USFWS decision to remove the species from the Endangered Species List due to recovery. 

A Louisiana black bear and her cubs up in a tree. USGS science on population demographics, population viability, and relocation efforts were used to inform the 2016 USFWS decision to remove the species from the Endangered Species List due to recovery. 

Fishing off rock
fishing off rock.jpg
fishing off rock.jpg
fishing off rock.jpg

Picture of boys fishing off rocks in the middle of a river with a beautiful background

Picture of boys fishing off rocks in the middle of a river with a beautiful background

Golden Eagle
Golden eagle fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) backpack
Golden eagle fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) backpack
Golden eagle fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) backpack

Reports of golden eagle mortality linked to wind energy facilities are cause for concern especially when coupled with the knowledge that golden eagles move great distances between breeding and wintering areas. Mortalities at a particular wind energy facility can consequently affect breeding populations of golden eagles at local and continent-wide scales.

Reports of golden eagle mortality linked to wind energy facilities are cause for concern especially when coupled with the knowledge that golden eagles move great distances between breeding and wintering areas. Mortalities at a particular wind energy facility can consequently affect breeding populations of golden eagles at local and continent-wide scales.

Testing for Bsal
Testing for Bsal
Testing for Bsal
Testing for Bsal

Scientists sample a rough-skinned newt for the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, or Bsal, at a pond near Portland, Oregon. Bsal is decimating wild salamander populations in Europe and could emerge in the U.S. thro

Scientists sample a rough-skinned newt for the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, or Bsal, at a pond near Portland, Oregon. Bsal is decimating wild salamander populations in Europe and could emerge in the U.S. thro

Invasive black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae).
Invasive black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae).
Invasive black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae).
Invasive black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae).

Invasive black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae). USGS is working on development of tools for the detection and capture of invasive reptiles in Florida.

Person taking data in grassland with biocrust
Biocrusts in healthy grassland data collection
Biocrusts in healthy grassland data collection
Biocrusts in healthy grassland data collection

Person taking data in a healthy dryland grassland with dark biocrusts between bunchgrasses and cacti in Utah.

Four eagles around a carcass in the snow. Two are flying. Two are on the ground.
Four eagles on a carcass
Four eagles on a carcass
Four eagles on a carcass

The eagle in the foreground with the wide white tail band is a golden eagle. The other eagles are two adult and one Basic II bald eagles.

The eagle in the foreground with the wide white tail band is a golden eagle. The other eagles are two adult and one Basic II bald eagles.

WorldCat holdings, OCLC, USGS Pubs Warehouse, Public Domain, Biodiversity Heritage Library
A student volunteer scans historic USGS library material
A student volunteer scans historic USGS library material
A student volunteer scans historic USGS library material

Student volunteers are trained to scan historic library materials. The materials can be complex, consisting of multiple parts.

Tufted Puffin, the species most affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK
Tufted Puffin, near Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Tufted Puffin, near Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Tufted Puffin, near Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Tufted Puffin, the species most affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK. Near Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Two sea otters floating on their backs in water.
Sea Otters
Sea Otters
Sea Otters

Three of the nine wild sea otter populations in the U.S. are federally listed as threatened. In California, USGS biologists have lead an annual population census to assess the local populations' recovery, working closely with state agencies and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Three of the nine wild sea otter populations in the U.S. are federally listed as threatened. In California, USGS biologists have lead an annual population census to assess the local populations' recovery, working closely with state agencies and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Using radio telemetry to track a federally threatened Oregon spotted frog
Using radio telemetry
Using radio telemetry
Using radio telemetry

Don Ashton uses radio telemetry to track a federally threatened Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa). Data provide information on resource use, movement patterns, and overwintering

Don Ashton uses radio telemetry to track a federally threatened Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa). Data provide information on resource use, movement patterns, and overwintering

Photo of Biocrust outdoor testing plots
Biocrust outdoor testing plots
Biocrust outdoor testing plots
Biocrust outdoor testing plots

USGS scientists created outdoor testing plots where large squares of biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.

USGS scientists created outdoor testing plots where large squares of biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.

Photo of USGS scientist Sasha Reed studying outdoor biocrust testing sites
USGS scientist Sasha Reed studys outdoor biocrust testing sites
USGS scientist Sasha Reed studys outdoor biocrust testing sites
USGS scientist Sasha Reed studys outdoor biocrust testing sites

USGS scientist Sasha Reed studies sites where different climate conditions are being mimicked to determine effect on biocrusts.

Photo of outdoor testing plots where biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.
Biocrust outdoor testing plots
Biocrust outdoor testing plots
Biocrust outdoor testing plots

USGS scientists created outdoor testing plots where large squares of biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.

USGS scientists created outdoor testing plots where large squares of biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.

Photo of biocrust outdoor testing plots.
Biocrust outdoor testing plots.
Biocrust outdoor testing plots.
Biocrust outdoor testing plots.

USGS scientists created outdoor testing plots where large squares of biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.

USGS scientists created outdoor testing plots where large squares of biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.

two scientists setting up an experiment in an area dominated by cheatgrass
Setting up a bacterial control experiment on cheatgrass
Setting up a bacterial control experiment on cheatgrass
Setting up a bacterial control experiment on cheatgrass

Scientists are studying several weed suppressive bacteria to see if they can be used as a biological control on invasive exotic grasses, such as cheatgrass.

USGS personnel maintaining weather station on glacier
USGS personnel maintaining weather station on glacier
USGS personnel maintaining weather station on glacier
Beached boats and bare trees in Hurricane Hole
Irma leaves beached boats and broken trees in Huricane Hole
Irma leaves beached boats and broken trees in Huricane Hole
Irma leaves beached boats and broken trees in Huricane Hole

Boat owners sought protection for their vessels in sheltered Hurricane Hole, but Hurricane Irma sunk and beached many boats, likely damaging corals. Photo: Caroline Rogers, USGS, 2017

Fog on Yukon River
Fog on Yukon River
Fog on Yukon River
Fog on Yukon River

Fog along the Yukon River showing a Black Spruce dominated forest in the foreground, which is prone to wildfire.  Photo by Bruce Wylie, USGS

Fog along the Yukon River showing a Black Spruce dominated forest in the foreground, which is prone to wildfire.  Photo by Bruce Wylie, USGS

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