RALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 1, 2006) — Songbirds flitting through the trees. A broad-winged hawk sweeping across the sky. Green tree frogs croaking in chorus. If you enjoy wild creatures, here’s your chance to help them.

By checking line No. 26 on your North Carolina income tax form, you can help conserve nongame wildlife — animals that are neither hunted nor fished — and their habitats. Tax check-off donations are a significant source of funding for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife program. Since 1984, North Carolina taxpayers have given more than $7 million to the program.

Biologists with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission have used tax check-off donations to support projects benefiting sea turtles, pelicans, freshwater mussels, Northern flying squirrels, green salamanders, bald eagles and dozens of other species.

Although donations target projects benefiting nongame animals and their habitats, game species such as deer, turkey and bear also benefit because they share many of these same habitats.

Donating is simple. Check off the amount you wish to contribute. If you are not due a refund or if you have already filed your taxes, you can still donate by sending a check to the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund, 1722 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1722. All donations are tax-deductible.

Visit the Wildlife Species and Conservation section to find out more about projects currently funded through the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife program.

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