Most Montanans participate in wildlife viewing and other nongame-related activities. Last year about 2,000 of them also made a tax-deductibe contribution, raising about $25,000 to help support wildlife viewing in the state.

It is so easy. Just look for our national symbol on line 49 of your 2004 Montana income tax return form.   The soaring bald eagle marks where, with a check mark, you can make a tax-deductible contribution.

Montana’s nongame wildlife species are highly "watchable," including hawks, owls, loons, frogs, chipmunks, and birds such as chickadees, nuthatches, and finches-among many other species.  

In recent years, the nongame wildlife tax check-off has helped fund a variety of important wildlife projects including:

*A Checklist of Montana Birds, available at FWP offices or from the FWP web page at fwp.mt.gov , search for Montana Birds; the Montana Bird Distribution book available from Montana Audubon, P.O. Box 595, Helena, MT 59624-0595 or by calling 406-443-3949; and the Montana Bird Distribution database at http://nhp.nris.state.mt.us/   .

* A poster of Montana’s amphibians and reptiles and two new books, Herpetology in Montana and Amphibians and Reptiles of Montana.   Posters are available by calling 406-444-4041.   Herpetology in Montana , can be ordered at http://snwvb.org/series.html   and Amphibians and Reptiles of Montana can be ordered at www.mountain-press.com or your local bookstore.

* Work with loons that will help protect nesting loons through education and management at lakes where they nest. To find out more go to: www.montanaloons.org .

* Assisting the Mountain Bluebird Trails, Inc. with projects that help conserve bluebirds and other cavity-nesting birds.    For more information go to:   www.mountainbluebirdtrails.com .     

* Inventories of wildlife species of concern, such as the pygmy rabbit, black tern, yellow rail, ferruginous hawk, and mountain plover. Monitoring these species helps to ensure populations remain healthy and carry on into the future.

*Special projects such as the Montana Nature and Birding Trails, see www.montanabirdingtrail.org for details.

Remember, your tax-deductible contribution will help Montana’s lesser-known species and enhance wildlife viewing opportunities.   

So, while you or your tax accountant prepares your 2004 tax return, take the time to locate the eagle and make the check-off that counts for Montana’s nongame wildlife.  
 

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