U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Introducing the 2026 Duck Stamp Contest winners!! Congratulations to all participants, judges and partners who helped with this year’s art competition, the only juried art competition sponsored by the federal government. First place: Robert Hautman of Delano, Minnesota, with an acrylic painting of a long-tailed duck pair. Second place: Madison Grimm of Wallace, South Dakota, with an acrylic painting of a king eider. Third place: Joseph Hautman of Plymouth, Minnesota, with an acrylic painting of a king eider. The federal Duck Stamp is a unique, highly effective way to conserve America’s natural resources by engaging the public in art. For every dollar spent on Federal Duck Stamps, 98 cents go toward vital wetlands habitat conservation in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Since 1934, federal Duck Stamp sales have raised more than $1.3 billion to conserve millions of acres of vital wetland habitat for migratory waterfowl. Read the full press release in the comments! Photos: © Robert Hautman, used with permission; © Madison Grimm, used with permission; © Joseph Hautman, used with permission

Make like a tree, and leave… for your nearest national wildlife refuge! From maple reds to aspen yellows, the trees are serving up some un-be-leaf-able views. Where are you leaf peepin’ this fall? USFWS photos of fall across the country displaying beautiful scenes of reds, oranges, yellows, blues, and greens.

Meet the kala, AKA Bluespine Unicornfish! 🦄🐟👋 From the horn on its head to its blue spines and tail tassels, this leathery-skinned fish is a wonder to behold and a culturally-important species in Hawaii. Tune in later today to learn about its seaweed/algae-eating habits, management and more! Our guest is Maria "Baba" Angst from Hawaii's Department of Land & Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. Catch new episodes of "Fish of the Week!" every Monday on our FWS website or wherever you get your podcasts. 📷 Nathan Cook CC-BY NC 4.0

OLIVE RIDLEY SEA TURTLE NEST UPDATE: Wildlife officials have relocated olive ridley sea turtle eggs from Orange County beaches to the Aquarium of the Pacific ahead of this weekend's hazardous surf, which threatens to wash away the nests. In mid-September, two olive ridley sea turtles made national headlines when they laid eggs along the California coast in Seal Beach and in Huntington Beach. This is the first time any sea turtle has been documented nesting along the U.S. West Coast. Collectively, we made the challenging decision as high tides combine with dangerous surf conditions, driven by Hurricane Polo. An interagency team has been monitoring the storm and the beach hazards predicted for the area. This morning, biologists carefully collected the eggs and transferred them to the Aquarium of the Pacific, where they will be held in a temperature-controlled environment. The eggs will be carefully monitored and if viable, are expected to hatch in 45 - 60 days, in early November. In coordination with the Aquarium and our partners, we'll continue to provide updates about the sea turtle eggs. Breeding populations of olive ridley sea turtles along Mexico’s Pacific coast are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries Service West Coast collaborate on the management of olive ridleys. A big thank you to our partners at NOAA, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Huntington Beach Fire Department Marine Safety, City of Huntington Beach - Government, Huntington Beach Fire Department, Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve, US Navy Seal Beach, Seal Beach Marine Safety Department, City of Seal Beach - Local Government, Surfside lifeguards, Surfside Colony Community Association, Aquarium of the Pacific and many others for their quick response and continuous support. Photo 1 of eggs in the sand courtesy of Seal Beach Marine Safety Department Photo 2 of eggs being collected courtesy of Seal Beach Marine Safety Department Photo 3 of eggs being collected courtesy of Huntington Beach Police Department

We’re celebrating National Forensic Science Week! Behind every wildlife crime investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there’s a piece of evidence with a story to tell. We’re incredibly fortunate to have the world’s only comprehensive full-service wildlife forensics laboratory at the Clark R. Bavin National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon. Our lab plays a critical role in supporting federal, state and international wildlife law enforcement agencies. Highly-trained morphologists, pathologists, geneticists, chemists and ancillary staff use cutting-edge technology to conduct analyses which guide wildlife criminal investigations, bolster prosecutions and increase compliance with wildlife protection laws. Our wildlife inspectors and special agents work closely with the laboratory by submitting detained and seized property for forensic analysis, ensuring that investigative findings are scientifically supported and legally defensible. Since its opening in 1989, the lab has worked on more than 16,000 cases with approximately 250,000 pieces of evidence, including those involving protected species such as elephants, rhinoceros, condors, sharks and turtles. While their work occurs behind the scenes, we recognize and appreciate their expertise and commitment, which continues to be an invaluable asset in the effort to combat wildlife trafficking. Photo 1: A geneticist examines big cat skulls and other associated bones by USFWS. Photo 2: A geneticist examines shark fins and totoaba fish maw (swim bladders) that were associated with a wildlife trafficking investigation by USFWS. Photo 3: An ornithologist examines the morphological differences in hornbill species while working on a wildlife trafficking case by USFWS. Photo 4: Lab staff and wildlife inspectors group photo by USFWS.

Nature has its own way of announcing a new season. At the National Elk Refuge, fall means the sound of bull elk bugling through the plains surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Tetons. The Refuge was established in 1912 to protect critically important habitat for iconic species like elk. From September through October, their calls carry up to a mile — and they're not just noise. The pitch and frequency reveal a bull's size, age, and stamina to potential mates. Video of a bull elk trotting across the plain, bugling for a group of cow elk, at National Elk Refuge in Jackson, WY by USFWS.

Breaking news! Two olive ridley sea turtle nests spotted in California! An olive ridley sea turtle was observed digging a nest and laying eggs on a beach near Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, California on September 16, 2026. This is the first-ever documented natural sea turtle nesting on the U.S. West Coast. Three days later, another olive ridley sea turtle and nest were observed on a beach near the Huntington Beach Pier. Experts confirmed both nests were laid by two different olive ridley sea turtles. Our interagency team will monitor the nesting sites throughout the incubation period, which typically lasts for 45-60 days. Both areas are fenced, protected and have interpretive signage. We urge beach goers to give the nests space and not disturb the sites to ensure the best chance of survival for the eggs and hatchlings. Olive ridley turtles are the smallest of the sea turtles: adults weigh up to 100 lbs and are about 2.5 to 3’ in length. They are estimated to live about 30-50 years. The turtles are found around the world, primarily in tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. Major Pacific nesting populations are found in Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. A big thanks to our partners at NOAA, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Huntington Beach lifeguards, City of Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach Fire Department, Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve, US Navy Seal Beach, Seal Beach Marine Safety Department, City of Seal Beach, Surfside lifeguards, Surfside Colony Community Association, Aquarium of the Pacific and many others for their quick response and for helping monitor these important sites. Sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act. All accompanying media was taken by the interagency team in the process of monitoring and protecting the turtles. Photo 1: Nesting olive ridley sea turtle near the Huntington Beach Pier. Credit: Huntington Beach Fire Department Photo 2: Surfside turtle eggs. Credit: NOAA Fisheries Photo 3: Credit: Katy Kughen/USFWS

Monarch migration kicks off in mid-August and runs to mid-November. These butterflies only travel during the day, so what do they do at night? Groups of butterflies ranging from a handful to hundreds will roost in trees along the way!   They don't make the trip on empty tanks, though. The wildflowers are in full bloom at DeSoto and Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuges which fuels the long migration and the bottomland forest habitat is ideal for roosting while staying sheltered from wind and rain.    USFWS video of dozens of monarchs roosting in the trees by Peter Rea.

Nothing says fall like a tree swallow flashmob 🍁🍂   Migrating tree swallows can form enormous, mesmerizing flocks numbering in the hundreds of thousands as they make their way south for winter. These highly social birds migrate during the day and often form birdnados like these near their roosting sites in the evening, swirling and diving until all are settled into their roost.    USFWS video of thousands of birds flying over a road near a marsh and shrubland in low light at Parker River NWR.

A package labeled “4x play toy” turns out to be a cover for smuggled rare Chief Goliath beetles. On August 19, Philadelphia CBP intercepted and seized a mislabeled package en route from North Carolina to Germany that contained three live Chief Goliath beetles, stag beetle parts and two shadow boxes used for insect specimens. Our U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife inspectors quickly stepped in to support the seizure — live beetles are considered wildlife and must be declared to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, inspected and cleared before import or export, and may need additional permits depending on the species and destination. Chief Goliath beetles are native to rainforests in Africa. Researchers consider Chief Goliath beetles to be increasingly rare in the wild due to deforestation and agriculture expansion in the tropical regions of Africa, and overharvesting for the international pet trade. Exotic insects are highly popular among collectors and insect enthusiasts and are illegally sold through underground markets. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking appropriate follow-up action regarding potential violations of the Endangered Species Act and Lacey Act, reinforcing our commitment to combating illegal wildlife trafficking and protecting imperiled species. Photos by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)