Our Story

 

Bald eagles soar in Minnesota skies. Trumpeter swans sing on our waters, peregrine falcons circle overhead and river otters frolic in our streams. But this wasn’t always the case.

Our story began in 1977, when many beloved Minnesota wildlife species were rare, threatened or at the brink of extinction. Section of Wildlife Chief Roger Holmes created the Nongame Wildlife Program, believing that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources had a responsibility to manage and protect all wildlife, not just game species. Carrol Henderson was hired as the first Nongame Wildlife Program Supervisor and was granted an annual budget of $25,000, which included his salary.

As we began our crucial conservation work, we realized we needed more funding to help Minnesota’s many at-risk wildlife species. Sen. Collin Peterson noticed that Colorado had a voluntary tax checkoff and was using the funds to help nongame wildlife. He introduced similar legislation in Minnesota and in 1980, the Nongame Wildlife Checkoff law was passed. Minnesotans could now join the fight for Minnesota’s wildlife by donating to the Nongame Wildlife Fund when they filed their state taxes.

With the support of Minnesotans and the Nongame Wildlife Fund, we restored iconic Minnesota wildlife species like the trumpeter swan and bald eagle. We researched rare wildlife, enhanced habitat and developed the Minnesota Wildlife Action Plan, which continues to guide our conservation work.

For over 45 years, our program has fought for Minnesota’s rare and vulnerable wildlife. Numerous species, once on the brink of extinction, now flourish in our state. None of this would have been possible without your support. But there are hundreds of wildlife species that still need our help. We are your Nongame Wildlife Program and together, we can ensure a future for Minnesota’s at-risk wildlife.