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US Fish and Wildlife Service

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Depends on Position/Program/Administration. Spotty Leadership. But great to work in conservation. - Anonymous employee US Fish and Wildlife Service Employee Review

3.0
Jun 2, 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You're helping protect wildlife, habitat and endangered species, how awesome is that? There are truly some great people in this agency. Great training facility (NCTC), national scope and ability to travel, some flexibility in schedule. If you're in the right program and position for you, life is good. Job security.

Cons

The USFWS isn't exactly a young, strong, sleek agency. Maybe that was in the 60s-80s with the ESA new, expanding refuges, a strong bent towards technical control of nature with fish hatcheries. It's past middle age, kinda overweight, out of shape, grumpy, not particularly open to change, and trying to find a purpose in life.... ...The ESA, while an amazing law, has become difficult to implement. The refuge system seems dated, industrial hatchery production is a big part of Fisheries, attempts at landscape-scale collaboration was almost universally disliked by leadership and most staff. There is an archetype of the grumpy, introverted wildlife biologist who doesn't like people or change. There is some truth in this, and it plays out often here. The Peter Principle, like in many gov't agencies, plays out often. I've had 3 Supervisors. One was competent and a real professional inspiration. One was the boss from hell, the other just didn't care about much, seemed lost and always gave up. In many cases, one needs to re-locate or take a job they don't want in order to get promoted. Administration change. Certain administrations don't seem to value public service to wildlife and conservation as much as others. It can be a jarring change to how the agency functions or doesn't function. This agency seems conflicted with itself and the future of conservation. Lots of traditional wildlife management types focused on small areas, one species, probably missing the bigger picture. Maddening to try to instigate innovation or change.

Explore other reviews about US Fish and Wildlife Service

5.0
Nov 18, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Admirable agency mission; many employees truly care about the resources, animals, ecosystems, etc. Good professional growth opportunities.

Cons

National wildlife refuge managers have too much unilateral power; there aren't enough checks and balances heading up the chain--and there's some lingering good 'ol boy-ism--so one bad manager can reverse years of community and conservation work and throw an entire refuge down the tubes.

3.0
Jan 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great if you're invested in the mission to conserve and restore ecosystems and wildlife populations; good benefits and work-life balance

Cons

Congressional meddling and changing priorities for initiatives at the regional level makes it extremely difficult to actually move the needle for species recovery. Now, with staff and budget cuts and changes in policies under the current administration, USFWS and the ESA are being de-fanged, defunded and deregulated to the benefit of private corporations and extractive industries (coal, oil & gas, mining). Internal morale has plummeted since Feb 2025.

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