As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this year’s Wildlife Health Awareness Day also reflects on the conservation traditions that have shaped our relationship with the natural world. The theme of the 2026 USGS Wildlife Health Awareness Day is “Healthy Wildlife, Enduring Traditions.” USGS science directly supports the health and resilience of species that Americans rely on for outdoor recreation and cultural traditions. By detecting, tracking, and understanding the diseases that influence the long-term viability of big game, waterfowl, fish, and more, USGS science is strengthening the ability of wildlife managers to keep these populations healthy and thriving for generations.  Aldo Leopold’s Forest Service career began in 1909, as a ranger on the Apache National Forest in the Arizona Territory (Photo courtesy of the Aldo Leopold Foundation).…