Support Healthy Wildlife Habitat
The Vermont Habitat Stamp continues to be an important component in supporting wildlife conservation around the state. During this past year, public donations to the Vermont Habitat Stamp fund helped improve important fish and wildlife habitat, conserve undeveloped land and create more public access in Vermont.
On Vermont’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), Habitat Stamp support helped create young forest patches at The Narrows WMA, enhance oak and other food-producing trees at Elm Brook WMA, treat invasive plants at several WMAs, and establish native trees and shrubs at South Bay WMA. Three impoundment dams were cleared of invasive species through a partnership with Vermont Youth Conservation Corps at Dead Creek WMA.
Habitat Stamp funds were also used this past year to add an additional 355 acres to the Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area in Wallingford. The Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area features excellent floodplain habitat in the upper part of Otter Creek with areas of large wet meadows, habitat for grassland birds and alder swales to support woodcock and other shrubland birds. The expanded portion of the WMA will provide improved public access for trout fishing, duck hunting and wildlife watching.
Habitat Stamp funds were also used to help provide one-on-one assistance to private landowners for improving wildlife habitat on their properties, to work with conservation partners to implement forest management projects benefitting wildlife and to remove barriers to fish habitat connectivity.
Habitat Stamps can be purchased online on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department website by downloading and mailing in a form, or when buying a hunting or fishing license. While a donation of any amount is appreciated, a donation of $15 or more is required to receive a stamp decal for your car, kayak or wherever you choose. To learn more about the work that is accomplished each year thanks to generous public support of the habitat stamp, please check out the annual reports that are available on our website at https://vtfishandwildlife.com/vthabitatstamp.
The Vermont Habitat Stamp fund directly benefits Vermont’s fish, wildlife, their habitats, and the people that enjoy them. These donations also leverage a federal match in dollars when implemented, making public donations even more powerful. We appreciate every dollar raised through this fund and wholeheartedly thank you for your continued support and interest in conserving Vermont’s fish, wildlife and the wild places that support them.
