USFWS History

NCTC Conservation Lecture Series “The Man Who Changed a Landscape: The Adrian Gardiner Story Rewilding and Wildlife Tourism in South Africa” with author Dr. Dean Allen Tuesday November 18, 2025, at 7:00 pm @USFWSNCTC or online November 25 at 2:00 pm ET @usfws/streams" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@usfws/streams

Winner of Last Week's You Write the Caption Contest! "I'm telling you, this is not really a step up. We're still living on a boat." The image is a houseboat at Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge circa 1906. #usfws #A250 #caption #captionthis #usfwshistory

The NCTC Conservation Lecture Series Presents: “First People of the Shenandoah & Potomac Watersheds” with Carole Nash, Professor, James Madison University Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 7:00 pm @USFWSNCTC Available October 2, 2025, at 2:00 pm ET @usfws/streams" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@usfws/streams #A250

Happy Fourth of July from USFWS History! Image: 1918 July 4th poster. #July4th

“Return to the Sky” with author Tina Morris, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 7:00 pm @USFWSNCTC 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown, WV. This lecture will be recorded and available online July 10 at 2:00 pm ET at: @usfws/streams" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@usfws/streams

NCTC Conservation Lecture Series “Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities” with author, Timothy Beatley Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 7:00 pm NCTC Shepherdstown, WV 25443 This lecture will be recorded and available online May 22 at 2:00 pm ET @usfws/streams" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@usfws/streams

An Easter Bunny from USFW History! Image: Antelope Jackrabbit (Lepus alleni). Photographer: W.P. Taylor.

The National Wildlife Refuge System turns 122 years old today. On March 14, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt set aside tiny Pelican Island in Florida for the protection of pelicans and other birds. Paul Kroegel was hired less than a month later to protect the birds.

This Day in Environmental History: March 12, 1912 Juliette Low founded Girl Guiding in the USA. She assembled 18 girls from GA on 12 March 1912, for a local Girl Scout meeting. Image: Juliette Gordon Low (center) with Girl Scouts. #envhist #history #TDIH

“Central Appalachian Fishes” by author Stuart Welsh Ph.D, Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 7:00 pm NCTC 698 Conservation Way Shepherdstown, WV. Available for online viewing on March 6, 2025 at 2:00pm ET from the NCTC Broadcast page: @usfws/streams" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@usfws/streams

Happy President's Day! Presidential Trivia: President Abraham Lincoln and naturalist Charles Darwin were both born on the same day, February 12, 1809. #trivia #PresidentsDay

“Cradle of Conservation: An Environmental History of Pennsylvania” Dr. Allen Dieterich-Ward Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 7:00 pm, National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV 25443 Online viewing on January 23, 2025 at 2:00pm ET at: fws.gov/broadcasts

Monday Motivation: "It is good to realize that if love and peace can prevail on earth, and if we can teach our children to honor nature's gifts, the joys and beauties of the outdoors will be here forever." --Former President Jimmy Carter (1924-2024) Credit: National Archives

Friday Fun: "Birds of Prey Family Portrait" Artist Kent Olson was a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service field biologist from 1958 to 1990 working for the USFWS National Wildlife Refuge System. His art is housed at the USFWS Museum/Archives at NCTC. #usfwshistory #USFWS

Winner of Last Week's "You Write the Caption Contest!" "Until the discovery of this photo, it was always a mystery as to how the Bureau of Fisheries maintained such a healthy budget during the 1920s." #usfwshistory #caption #captionthis #captionlessphotochallenge

This Day in History: December 7, 1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor which led to America's entering World War II. Today Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge protects sites of the attack such as the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station. #PearHarbor #OTD #TDIH

This Day in Environmental History: December 1, 1959 Antarctic Treaty promotes the peaceful use of the continent for scientific research. #envhist #histci #OTD #TDIH #ThisDay #TodayInHistory

This Day in Environmental History: December 1, 1945 Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge, FL established. In 1967, the refuge was renamed for conservation pioneer/cartoonist Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling, who was instrumental in its founding. Image: Darling cartoon of refuge manager.

This Day in Environmental History: November 10, 2003 Congaree National Park, SC est. #envhist #conservation #tdih #OTD #OnThisDay #TodayInHistory

This Day in Environmental History: November 10, 1978 Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND established. #OTD #thisdayinhistory #tdih #envhist #conservation