U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Why did the sheep farmer move to Wisconsin? Because he herd the cheese was gouda, but the grazing was even butter! Meet Jeremie Favre and Ellen Geisler of Laxey Sheep Ranch, where 500 Polypay sheep roam the rolling hills, producing lambing rates twice the national average. They're not just raising sheep, they're redefining sustainable farming. Their secret? Rotational grazing on lush pastures, seeded with a no-till drill borrowed from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This practice keeps the land healthy, the sheep happy, and their farm pristine. It's a win-win for conservation and agriculture. USFWS supports landscape conservation designs that benefit wildlife, economies, and people. And that’s exactly what’s happening at Laxey Creek. Their commitment to the environment ensures that their farm remains a haven for healthy land, thriving fish, and a strong farming future. Photo of rancher Jeremie Favre speaking at an event on his ranch. Photo by Mike Engel/USFWS

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature -- the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” - Rachel Carson, Sense of Wonder Photo at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge by USFWS

Meet the golden mussel, a newer invasive species to North America. Golden mussels were recently found in the Port of Stockton, California and are originally from China, Korea and Southeast Asia. They can be identified in fresh to brackish water by their small size and light golden to darker yellowish-brown colored shell. These mussels pose a direct threat to water quality, natural ecosystems, infrastructure and water conveyance systems. How you can help: Clean, Drain and Dry. CLEAN off visible aquatic plants, animals and mud from all equipment before leaving water access. DRAIN motor, bilge, livewell and other water containing devices before leaving water access. Clean boat and gear with hot water or DRY everything for at least five days. Photos courtesy of California Department of Water Resources #NISAW

Bro, you’re a thrasher ‼️🔥🔥 Besides having a totally sick name, the sage thrasher also has quite a pretty song to share, as displayed in this solo captured from Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Oregon. Malheur is a sanctuary to almost 350 bird species and a vital stop for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. Video: Dan Streiffert Video description: Profile view of gray bird with brown spots on white chest, perched on post singing, with blue sky behind.

Is it time to have the "talk" with your goldfish. Maybe Bubbles was an impulse buy. Maybe your cat won’t stop trying to "play" with them. Maybe you just didn’t expect them to live this long. Whatever the reason, you can’t take care of them anymore. We’re not judging! But if you’re thinking about setting them free, don’t do it. Goldfish may seem small and harmless, but once they’re out of the tank, they turn into giant ecosystem wreckers. In the wild, they can grow as big as a football, uproot plants, stir up sediment, and eat anything they can fit in their mouths. This damages water quality, destroys habitat, and pushes out native fish. Instead of setting them free, try these responsible options: 🐟 Rehome them—ask pet stores, aquariums, or local hobbyists. 🐟 Return them—some pet shops and shelters accept unwanted fish. 🐟 Dispose responsibly—never dump aquarium water or fish into lakes, rivers, or drains. Breaking up is hard, but dumping Bubbles into a lake isn’t the answer. Let’s keep our waters healthy and our wildlife thriving!

In case you missed this invasive species feature, here it is again! Slightly resembling beavers, nutria are invasive semi-aquatic rodents that cause significant damage to wildlife habitat throughout the United States. Their digging, rooting and eating destroys native aquatic plants like cattails and bulrush that provide shelter, nesting sites and food for countless native wildlife species. We're currently monitoring nutria at the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex and surrounding vicinity. If you come across nutria in California, you can report your sighting here: https://ow.ly/wZI850V822Y In some states, you can eat them! (Check your state’s regulations and restrictions before doing that): https://ow.ly/B5SV50V822Z Nutria identification tips: white on their muzzle and long, skinny, hairless tail. Photos by USFWS #NISAW

Winter denning is the norm for most bears of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, while almost all black bears and brown bears sleep through the months when food is scarce. Moreover, polar bears are different: only pregnant females seek out dens, while the rest remain active throughout winter. Their fur and blubber protect them from the cold, and the sea ice provides a solid platform from which they can hunt seals. 🤔 But what about newborn cubs? They don’t have the fur and fat needed to stay warm yet. That’s why pregnant females give birth in winter dens, nursing their tiny cubs until spring arrives, when their littles are strong enough to explore the world outside. 📸USFWS

Polar Bears are Big, Fluffy, and Built for the Arctic Today, we honor the largest bear on Earth, the undisputed champion of the sea ice, and quite possibly, the best looking king of the north. Polar bears don’t just survive in the Arctic, they own it. Their paws? Built-in snowshoes. Their fur? Water-resistant and packed with insulation. Their noses? So good they can sniff out a seal from miles away. Polar bear moms, like the one pictured here, are next-level dedicated. They’ll fast for months while raising their cubs in cozy snow dens. And when it’s time to step outside? That cub is about to learn all the bear necessities (mainly, how to be cute and how to catch dinner). So today, take a moment to appreciate these ice kings and queens, because the Arctic wouldn’t be the same without them. Photo at Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by Gregory Teller (sharetheexperience)

To benefit the San Joaquin kit fox and other upland species, Kern National Wildlife Refuge conducted an intensive invasive salt cedar removal effort between 2021 and 2023. Altogether, over 42,000 salt cedar trees were removed. Following salt cedar removal, we observed an increase in kit fox camera detections in areas directly adjacent to treated salt cedar stands. At the site with the highest density of salt cedar, kit fox detections increased by 72% from 2023 to 2024. There have also been repeated observations of active kit fox dens across the project area. By removing impermeable salt cedar stands, we established more open ground for kit foxes, encouraging den construction. Photos by USFWS #NISAW

Not all milkweed is created equal! While milkweed is typically planted to help monarchs, tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) can harm them. Because of tropical milkweed's extended blooming period, it more easily spreads diseases that make monarchs sick. If a monarch already has the parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE), it can spread easily from the infected butterfly to the milkweed and then to other butterflies. OE decreases monarchs’ survival and reproductive rates and can hinder monarch migration. If you have tropical milkweed, remove it and replace it with native milkweed varieties. 📷 P. L. Tandon/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 https://flic.kr/p/2mujreE