Dandelions and black flies are pretty good indicators that spring has arrived in New Hampshire. So is the letter I receive each April from the N.H. Fish & Game Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program. This is the time for their annual fund campaign when they ask for public donations to support their work with N.H. wildlife that isn’t hunted, fished or trapped.
Some of these critters are quite upscale, like eagles, ospreys, Karner blue butterflies and the terns on the Isles of Shoals. But others, like the dwarf wedgemussels and the big brown bat, are lacking that kind of flash.
Each year this program receives about $100,000 in public contributions, along with state matching funds for a portion of that amount. The program also receives $250,000-plus from the sale of moose conservation license plates, but the majority of program funding comes from federal sources. There are close to 1 million adult residents of New Hampshire, and the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife program receives about $100,000 during their annual fund drive. That works out to about one dime per adult resident. I have to believe that we can do better than that.
Many believe that it’s the duty of state government to fund this wildlife conservation program, and that a worthy state program shouldn’t have to rely on donations to survive. Maybe, but that’s the way it is right now, and the work needs to be done right now. Visit wildnh.com/nongame for more information.
JOHN WENTWORTH
Loudon