legal Definition of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Interior Department agency charged with protecting the nation's fish and wildlife resources. In addition to operating 551 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and management areas, 70 national fish hatcheries, 65 fishery resource offices, and 86 ecological service field stations, FWS maintains a nationwide network of wildlife law enforcement agents. It is also responsible for developing the list of federally recognized endangered and threatened species and enforcing the laws governing the protection of those species.
