HELPING THE WILD THINGS

Since 1983, Massachusetts tax filers have had the option of helping to protect and restore rare and endangered animals, plants, and their habitats by donating a portion of their state income tax refund to the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund while filing their state income tax form (Line 32). Past donations have helped conserve and restore in the Commonwealth populations of the Bald Eagle, Hessel's Hairstreak butterfly, the Northern Redbelly Cooter (turtle) and the beautiful Eastern Silvery Aster.  Contributions also support the development of important land protection and conservation tools such as the BioMap and Living Waters. Documenting loon nests, monitoring piping plover and colonial bird nesting areas and mapping rare species habitat are some of the other activities supported by the Fund. Any time of year is the right time to contribute to the Fund. Donations to the Fund may be made by sending a check payable to: Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund and sent to: MassWildlife Field HQ, NHESP, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd Westborough MA 01581 To learn more about the work the Fund supports, click on the Natural Heritage button at www.masswildlife.org