The shore glows white in the light of a full moon. The night slowly shrugs off the warmth of another beautiful day in May. As the surf crashes on the beach, you spot a prehistoric creature crawling from beneath the foam.

But wait, there’s a second, this one slightly smaller, clinging to the first. Then there’s another pair. Soon, hundreds pile atop one another on the sand. The rays of your headlamp catch their shimmering exoskeletons, as the water rolls from their backs.

Are you afraid of bees? You’re not alone. Many people experience panic or distress in the presence of bees — known as melissophobia or apiphobia. It’s normal to feel a little apprehension around bees — nobody wants to be stung — but coexisting with our bee neighbors is easier once you get to know them.

Most bees want to bee on their way and enjoy their day, just like we do. Yes of course, some sting, but the vast majority of bees do not! …

Since 2002, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has celebrated the contributions and achievements of nationally recognized Recovery Champions–staff and partners recognized nationally for their dedication to the conservation of threatened and endangered species.

This year, the North Atlantic-Appalachian Region is pleased to celebrate its very own Dr. Sadie Stevens for her work to improve coordination between U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices and strengthen relationships with state agencies receiving funding under the Cooperative Endangered Species Grant Programs.

As a fish and wildlife biologist with the regional Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR), Stevens helps grantees navigate the federal…

To help you plan ahead, we’ve listed a few of our favorite accessible fishing spots and boat ramps, with resources for many more!

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Basom, NY

The new accessible floating dock is now open at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. At this popular fishing location, the refuge hosts two special events every year — the Youth Fishing Derby and the Veteran Family Fishing Day. Ringneck Marsh is open to fishing year round, including ice fishing, per state regulations.

A second overlook, Mallard Overlook, has a view of Ringneck Marsh from the east. Both overlooks are good wildlife observation…

Seabeach amaranth is a threatened species found along the Atlantic coast with unique survival mechanisms.

Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is a native plant species found along Atlantic Coast barrier beaches, from South Carolina to Massachusetts. Decline in the northern part of its range caused by coastal development, sea level rise, increased recreation, and beach stabilization structures led to the plant being protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1993.

Dubbed a ‘fugitive plant’ due to its dispersal mechanisms, seabeach amaranth spreads its seeds at the whim of the winds and tides. …

Woolly mammoths and deep sea corals don’t appear to have much in common, but they have both called the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument home. For woolly mammoths living over 12,000 years ago, the seamounts in the Monument were just ‘mounts’ rising up around river gorges that today we call deep sea canyons.

Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is a protected area located about 130 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. Four extinct underwater volcanoes — the seamounts — rise up to 7,700 feet above the ocean floor, making them taller than any mountain east…

By Wendi Weber, North Atlantic-Appalachian Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

In times of crisis, our actions need to be informed by our past and guided by our vision for the future. When life-altering circumstances like the pandemic and climate change test our resilience, we must follow the science and choose adaptable solutions.

June is National Ocean Month, when we highlight the invaluable contributions the global ocean makes to our economy, environment, and wildlife resources. It’s also a time to reflect on the challenges our coastal communities are facing, including higher sea levels and more-frequent intense storms.

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By Denise Clay/USFWS

When most of us are getting ready for the beach, we think of sunscreen, towels, and snacks. But when a biologist thinks about beach season, they think about how to help protect beach birds. That’s because while we flock to the beaches to swim, sunbathe, and tackle our must-read list, birds go to the beach to survive.

“In the spring, red knots and other migratory birds stop at beaches and other coastal habitats to rest and fuel up during their long journeys,” said Wendy Walsh, an endangered species biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. …