The Tennessee Field Office is a leader in conserving Tennessee's imperiled species and their habitats, ensuring that sustainable populations of fish, wildlife, and plants continue to thrive for future generations.
Latest News
Endangered Species Act Proposal to list pyramid pigtoe mussel withdrawn In the wake of new genetic research indicating the pyramid pigtoe freshwater mussel is not a distinct species, rather is the same animal as the more common round pigtoe, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service withdraws its proposal to list the pyramid pigtoe as a threatened species under the Endangered...
Endangered Species Act FAQs – Withdrawal of the pyramid pigtoe from listing consideration Questions answered regarding the decision to withdraw the proposed listing of the pyramid pigtoe mussel based on new genetic research.
Endangered Species Act Draft recovery plan for four imperiled freshwater mussels They have quirky names and are often mistaken for stones, but freshwater mussels are very much alive and perform critical ecological functions in rivers and streams. We've drafted a plan to save four imperiled mussels protected under the Endangered Species Act: the rayed bean, sheepnose, snuffbox...
Endangered Species Act Service Finds Listing Not Warranted for Two Southeastern Species Based on a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that two southeastern species – the Yazoo crayfish and Tennessee cave salamander - are not at risk of extinction and do not warrant listing under the Endangered Species...
A Night at the Hatchery Bats typically aren't the first animal you think of when you visit a fish hatchery. However, that doesn't mean that they aren't present. Erwin NFH is working to expand knowledge of bats at the hatchery and with the public!
Endangered Species Act Service Proposes Listing Three Eastern Freshwater Mussels Under the Endangered Species Act The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes placing three freshwater mussels, the Cumberland moccasinshell, Tennessee clubshell, and Tennessee pigtoe on the federal list of threatened and endangered species. Each of these species is being proposed for endangered species status.
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About Us
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The Tennessee Field Office was established in 1977 in Cookeville, Tennessee. Our team is involved in conservation throughout the state, focusing on recovery of over 100 threatened and endangered species, with the majority occurring in central and east Tennessee. Working with others, we have demonstrated success in fulfilling the purposes of the Endangered Species Act, conserving ecosystems and recovering multiple species to the point that the protection of the Endangered Species Act is no longer necessary.
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What We Do
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The Tennessee Field Office provides assistance to Federal and State agencies, local governments, businesses, and the general public relative to conserving, protecting, and restoring habitat for federally threatened and endangered species. Our assistance is typically provided through six programs: pre-development consultation, federal permits and projects, endangered species listing and recovery, environmental contaminants, Partners for Fish and Wildlife, and education/outreach.
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Our Organization
As a field office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we are charged with implementing the Service's programs. Below you'll find a list, with links to more information about the programs we carry out for Tennessee.
Ecological Services
The Ecological Services Program works to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend. Using the best available science, we work with federal, state, Tribal, local, and non-profit stakeholders, as well as private land owners, to...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
Endangered Species
We provide national leadership in the recovery and conservation of our nation's imperiled plant and animal species, working with experts in the scientific community to identify species on the verge of extinction and to build the road to recovery to bring them back. We work with a range of public...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
Listing and Classification
We use the best scientific information available to determine whether to add a species to (list) or remove from (delist) the federal lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. We also determine whether already listed species should be reclassified from threatened to endangered (uplist...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
Recovery
We work with partners to conserve the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend, developing and maintaining conservation programs for these species to improve their status to the point that Endangered Species Act protection is no longer necessary for survival. This...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
Candidate Conservation
We assess the conservation status of species, using the best scientific information available, and identify those that warrant listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. A species that we find warrants a proposal to list as endangered or threatened, but listing is...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
Partners for Fish and Wildlife
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides free technical and financial assistance to landowners, managers, tribes, corporations, schools and nonprofits interested in improving wildlife habitat on their land. Since 1987, we have helped more than 30,000 landowners to complete more than 50,...
Program
Our Species
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Our staff are experts on several federal threatened and endangered species Tennessee. Learn more about the species that are the focus of our conservation efforts.
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Projects and Research
Cumberland Sandwort Delisting Celebration
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On April 8, the Service joined conservation partners in a celebration of the recovery of the Cumberland sandwort, which was delisted in September of 2021. This celebration with Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation - Division of Natural Areas, Tennessee State Parks, National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, and others marked the third time that the Tennessee ES Field Office has had the privilege of honoring outstanding results delivered through partnerships focused around implementing recovery plans for threatened and endangered species. We also took great pleasure in recognizing the contributions made over a 25-year career by Andrea Bishop, a retired Division of Natural Areas botanist who was instrumental in recovery efforts that led to the delisting of Eggert's sunflower (2005) and Tennessee purple coneflower (2014), in addition to the Cumberland sandwort. People make partnerships work, and the Service presented Andrea with a Southeast Region Recovery Champion Award to recognize her contributions to the recovery of these three species and conservation of countless other rare plant species.
Watch this video highlighting the day from the Tennessee Department of of Environment and Conservation
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Get Involved
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As a small office with a large work area, partnering with others is afoundation of our work - whether itbe funding research, coordinating on-the-ground conservation efforts, or shepherding the next generation of conservation leaders. There may be opportunities for you to get involved conserving some of the rarest species and special habitats in Tennessee, either with us, or with one of our myriad partners
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