Honor a loved one this holiday season by supporting Michigan’s wildlife

This holiday season, Michigan residents can honor friends or loved ones by making a donation to the Michigan Nongame Fish and Wildlife Fund in their name. The recipient will be notified of the donor’s generosity with a beautiful certificate and a Living Resources patch featuring one of Michigan’s unique nongame species.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, a donation of $20 or more makes a world of difference for the fish and wildlife species in Michigan. These tax-deductible gifts benefit species that are endangered, threatened or considered rare in the state, helping to restore rare species populations and also to keep common species common.

Since the Michigan Nongame Fish and Wildlife Fund was established in 1983, the program has had three main goals:

• To restore populations of endangered and threatened species through management and protection; 
• To maintain present populations of animals and plants; and 
• To promote appreciation and awareness of Michigan's nongame wildlife and endangered species through education and first-hand opportunities to experience wildlife. 

Peregrine falcons, trumpeter swans, piping plovers, gray wolves, Kirtland's warblers, Mitchell's satyr butterflies, lake sturgeon and common terns are just a few of the hundreds of wildlife species that have benefited from projects supported through the Michigan Nongame Fish and Wildlife Fund. For more information on projects that have been supported by the fund, visit www.michigan.gov/nongamewildlife.

The Michigan Nongame Fish and Wildlife Fund supports a network of more than 100 watchable wildlife sites throughout the state. These sites provide a variety of opportunities to view some of Michigan’s most popular wildlife species. The watchable wildlife program also promotes efforts that teach people how to responsibly photograph and view all forms of wildlife and plants.

Since its inception, the Michigan Nongame Fish and Wildlife Fund has raised more than $9.5 million in support of critical projects for nongame species, but the fund will not continue without donations. To make a donation in someone’s honor – perhaps as a holiday gift – resident can make out a check or money order to: State of Michigan, Nongame Wildlife Fund and send it, along with the person of honor’s name and address, to: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 30451, Lansing, MI 48909.

To get news and information about Michigan’s unique and wonderful wildlife species, sign up for the DNR’s Wildlife Viewing email list – visit www.michigan.gov/wildlife and click on the red envelope.