Donate to Maine's Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund 
You too can help by contributing to the Chickadee Checkoff on your income tax form, or by contributing directly to the Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund, either online or by mail.
Donate now!
Mail in a donation:
A gift of any amount can be sent directly to:
Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund
c/o Wildlife Division
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State Street, 41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0041
Please make checks payable to: Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund.
Your contribution to the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund is tax deductible.
Who we are and what we do.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is responsible for the preservation, protection and enhancement of the inland fisheries and wildlife resources of the State of Maine; the encouragement of the wise use of these resources; the coordinated planning for the future use and preservation of these resources and the effective management of these resources. The Department administers a variety of programs concerned with the management of the State’s inland fisheries and wildlife resources. Programs are based on the most current information available and are focused on long-range species management goals and objectives.
Funds you contribute will go directly into the Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund.
In 1983, the Maine Legislature established the Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund. Maine taxpayers can voluntarily contribute to the fund through the “Chickadee Check-off” on their state income tax forms as well as through direct donations. Then, in 1994, the "loon license plate" conservation registration was initiated, from which a portion of the proceeds go directly into the Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund. All money donated to the Fund, whether through the tax check-off, car registrations, grants, or direct gifts, is deposited into a special, interest-bearing account, from which money can only be spent on the conservation of Maine's endangered and nongame species. These donations are the only state funds regularly available for this work and help leverage grants which require a state match. In other words, we typically match your contributions at least dollar for dollar or more!
This fund provides for the Department’s work on many nongame species such as:
- Bald Eagles – From 1962 –1970 surveys of Maine could only locate between 21 and 33 nesting pairs of eagles. Since then, monitoring and habitat protection work by the Department and other cooperators have contributed to a steady increase in eagle numbers and distribution. In 2006, our dedicated wildlife staff identified 414 nesting pairs!
- Blanding’s and Spotted Turtles – These are two of Maine’s rarest reptiles and are semi-aquatic species preferring small, shallow wetlands in southern Maine. Recent work has provided information on nesting and hibernation sites, movements, and the types of wetlands used by these turtle species. This work has demonstrated the importance of small pocket swamps and vernal pools as foraging and breeding habitats.
- Black Terns – These terns nest in colonies on freshwater wetlands in central and eastern Maine. The Black Tern is the rarest species of tern in Maine, and their numbers are believed to have declined throughout their range in the past two decades. Breeding activity is concentrated in relatively few marsh locales, making the population vulnerable to chance events. It is critical that the Department continue to monitor populations of this species and protect its high-value, emergent marsh habitat.
- Roaring Brook Mayfly – This mayfly was officially listed as an Endangered species in Maine in 1997. It is the only mayfly known to be endemic to New England, and it is known from only one location in Maine; on Mt. Katahdin. The Endangered and Nongame Fund has enabled the Department to document the species’ status and its extremely limited distribution and will help fund future surveys to potentially document new occurrences.
- Canada Lynx – In 2000, the Canada lynx was listed as a federally threatened species, however there were little data on its status or distribution in Maine. In anticipation of the listing, Maine initiated a radio-telemetry study to determine the status of lynx, better understand their habitat needs, identify factors that may limit lynx, and identify techniques for detecting lynx in Maine and the Northeast. Based on information collected to date, the status of the species in Maine is much more secure than originally believed.
- Many other species including: Piping Plovers, Roseate Terns, Harlequin Ducks, Least Terns, Peregrine Falcons, Wood Turtles, Freshwater Mussels, Clayton’s Copper Butterflies, and rare dragonflies, have also benefited from funds from the Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund.
Reminder: Maine residents may also support nongame wildlife work in Maine by registering your car with a Conservation (loon) Plate!
Thank you for supporting Endangered and Nongame Wildlife in Maine!
