North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Wildlife Diversity Program

Conserving Nongame and Endangered Species

More than 1,000 nongame animals — animals that are not hunted or fished — call North Carolina home. Nongame wildlife includes mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish, freshwater mussels, snails and crayfish. Many nongame species are common and can be seen in your own backyard.

The Wildlife Diversity Program strives to prevent species from becoming endangered by working towards maintaining viable, self-sustaining populations of all native wildlife, with an emphasis on priority species and habitats identified in North Carolina’s Wildlife Action Plan. Everyone is encouraged to use the Wildlife Action Plan as a source for information about wildlife species and habitats which have the greatest conservation need in North Carolina.

The Wildlife Diversity Program seeks to work with a variety of partners to carry out its mission. Our partners and others who are encouraged to document their projects in the Conservation Registry as it will help us understand how the goals and strategies outlined in the Wildlife Action Plan are being implemented. It will also inform others of the many conservation efforts that are being implemented across North Carolina.

You Can Keep North Carolina Wild

Whether you hunt, fish, watch, or just appreciate wildlife, you can help conserve North Carolina’s wildlife and their habitats and keep North Carolina wild for future generations to enjoy. The Wildlife Diversity Program’s primary source of state funding is the North Carolina Tax Check-off for Nongame and Endangered Wildlife. This option allows North Carolina taxpayers to donate a portion of their state income tax refund to nongame wildlife conservation; donations are tax deductible. Just enter your contribution on line 30, “Contribution to the N.C. Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund,” on your North Carolina income tax form. Online tax preparation software, such as TurboTax, does not have numbered lines so e-filers will be asked if they would like to make a donation to the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund. Other tax filers can also tell their tax preparer they would like to donate.

Your tax deductible contributions are essential to match private and federal grants to pay for conservation projects from sea turtles to songbirds, from native fish to bats. Conserving these species and their habitat is made possible by your contributions. Tax season isn’t the only time or way to contribute to wildlife conservation. Other ways to help North Carolina’s wildlife and their habitats year-round are by registering a vehicle or trailer with a N.C. Wildlife Conservation license plate or by donating online at www.ncwildlife.org/give.

About North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Since 1947, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has been dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of the state's fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use, and public input. The Commission is the state regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of fishing, hunting, trapping, and boating laws and provides programs and opportunities for wildlife-related educational, recreational, and sporting activities.