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US Fish and Wildlife Service

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Terrible place to work - Biologist US Fish and Wildlife Service Employee Review

1.0
Oct 21, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Getting to be in nature, the benefits

Cons

No work-life balance. My immediate supervisor controlled my life inside and outside of work and dangled my job in front of my face while doing it. I was told what I could and could not do with my personal life. I wasn’t allowed to work the work schedule I wanted. Wasn’t allowed to take time off when I asked, and was forced to come to work while extremely ill. My supervisor put my life in danger every single day by requiring me to do extremely dangerous tasks or be in extremely dangerous situations in remote locations by myself, none of which was ever part of my job duties, and almost never bothered to check up on me. Co-workers stabbed me in the back. I was discriminated against for having a learning disability and my supervisor never even tried to understand how I process things. Wasn’t provided training for anything I did and had to figure everything out on my own. I had to purchase my own supplies and use my own vehicle for work and was never reimbursed for it. When I did work overtime, I was never compensated for it. Future career goals weren’t supported and I was cut off from participating in just about anything that would have helped in attaining those goals. Inter-office politics is ridiculous and you don’t feel safe coming to talk to anyone about the toxic work conditions. Absolutely a toxic work environment to work in.

Explore other reviews about US Fish and Wildlife Service

5.0
Nov 18, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Admirable agency mission; many employees truly care about the resources, animals, ecosystems, etc. Good professional growth opportunities.

Cons

National wildlife refuge managers have too much unilateral power; there aren't enough checks and balances heading up the chain--and there's some lingering good 'ol boy-ism--so one bad manager can reverse years of community and conservation work and throw an entire refuge down the tubes.

3.0
Jan 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great if you're invested in the mission to conserve and restore ecosystems and wildlife populations; good benefits and work-life balance

Cons

Congressional meddling and changing priorities for initiatives at the regional level makes it extremely difficult to actually move the needle for species recovery. Now, with staff and budget cuts and changes in policies under the current administration, USFWS and the ESA are being de-fanged, defunded and deregulated to the benefit of private corporations and extractive industries (coal, oil & gas, mining). Internal morale has plummeted since Feb 2025.

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