Images

A male spectacled eider following implantation of a satellite transmitter in the Colville River delta in June 2009. After breeding numbers of spectacled eiders, a large sea duck, declined by 96 percent at a primary breeding area in Alaska, the species was listed as threatened.

A pocketbook mussel (Lampsilis cardium). Native freshwater mussels are among the most fascinating, widespread, and endangered animals in fresh waters. They play important ecological roles in our lakes and rivers and their shells are used to produce cultured pearls.

An adult female polar bear and her two cubs travel across the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean north of the Alaska coast.

Many species of Hawaiian honeycreepers have persisted into the 20th century because high elevation rain forests on the islands of Kaua’i, Maui, and Hawai’i are cool enough to limit transmission of introduced avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum).

Many species of Hawaiian honeycreepers have persisted into the 20th century because high elevation rain forests on the islands of Kaua’i, Maui, and Hawai’i are cool enough to limit transmission of introduced avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum).

Many species of Hawaiian honeycreepers have persisted into the 20th century because high elevation rain forests on the islands of Kaua’i, Maui, and Hawai'i are cool enough to limit transmission of introduced avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum).

A drill rig in the Bakken oil field in Stark County, western North Dakota. 

A drill rig in the Bakken oil field in Stark County, western North Dakota. 

Bakken drilling and completion activities at a well along Interstate-94, 6 miles east of Belfield, North Dakota.

Bakken drilling and completion activities at a well along Interstate-94, 6 miles east of Belfield, North Dakota.

USGS scientist Steve Box takes an oriented sample of folded, crenulated, and metamorphosed banded siltite, exposed in the Blacktail pit of the Blackbird cobalt-copper mine, in the Salmon River Mountains of east-central Idaho.

2004 Chevak banding crew with four goose species. From left to right: Black Brandt, Emperor Goose, White-fronted Goose, and Cackling Goose.

Hibernating little brown bat with white muzzle typical of White-nose syndrome.

When looking for a place to set up a trapping location, scientists look for existing bear sign such as scratches on trees and bear scat. Sometimes traps are set in areas that have no obvious bear sign to determine if indeed bears are present.

USGS scientist John Slack holds his hammer to a biotitic mafic dike, intruded into twice-folded banded siltite, exposed in the Hawkeye adit of the Blackbird cobalt-copper mine, in the Salmon River Mountains of east-central Idaho. Biotite is a type of mica, and mafic refers to a high magnesium and iron content.

Culex species mosquito biting a human hand.

USGS scientist Art Bookstrom hammers on limonite-stained breccia, cutting banded siltite of the Apple Creek Formation, exposed near the Uncle Sam portal of the Blackbird cobalt-copper mine, in the Salmon River Mountains of east-central Idaho.

IGBST researchers begin gathering biological data from the bear.  The kerchief over the bear's eyes protects it from dust and debris and reduces visual stimulation. The small tubing in its nose, known as a nasal cannula, delivers oxygen to the animal while it is tranquilized.

USGS scientist Art Bookstrom photographs copper-stained banded siltite, exposed in the Blacktail pit of the Blackbird cobalt-copper mine, Salmon River Mountains, east-central Idaho.

A copper-striped blue-tailed skink (Emoia impar) photographed in Samoa during a USGS field survey.

A copper-striped blue-tailed skink (Emoia impar) photographed in Samoa during a USGS field survey.