The Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund distributes $80,000 in grant funds to enhance habitats across five counties, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin announced. These funds, gathered from voluntary contributions made by those purchasing hunting and fishing licenses, are designated for projects in Calumet, Dane, Florence, Sauk, and Vilas counties with aim to support wildlife and maintain biodiversity.
The Wisconsin DNR's website details the projects, revealing how the money will combat invasive species, clear paths for prescribed burns, and aid in the connection of prairie landscapes to help pollinators thrive, signaling a concerted effort to bolster the ecosystems that countless species depend on, game and non-game alike, for survival and prosperity, David Clutter, NRF executive director, highlighted the importance of this effort, saying, "Donations to the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund restore a range of habitats that support wildlife throughout our state. Threatened species, endangered species and game species are all part of our state’s incredible biodiversity."
Specifically, the funds will enable High Cliff State Park to take on invasive species threatening a 30-acre prairie, while in Dane County, the Lodi Marsh Wildlife Area will see an expansion of its native prairies and the nourishment of pollinator habitats. Likewise, Florence County's Spread Eagle Barrens State Natural Area will prepare its globally significant grasslands for prescribed fire management by removing invasive shrubs, as detailed by Wisconsin DNR's website.
Moving to Sauk County, the Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area is set to enhance expanses of grassland for birdwatching and hunting, and in Vilas County, forest openings that support game species and birds of conservation concern will be maintained through mowing and herbicide application, Steven Little, DNR Deputy Secretary expressed, "The Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund is a powerful, public-led effort to give back to the state-managed lands our hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts love." The grant selection process involved various stakeholder groups, including hunting and conservation organizations, ensuring that the projects align with both recreational and ecological needs, as per the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
