Nebraskaland

52 Nebraskaland • January-February 2025 MIXED BAG This tax season, consider donating a portion of your refund to the Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund when filling out your 1040N form. The fund supports Nebraska's nongame and endangered wildlife that do not fall under the Pitman-Robertson Act, which protects game and furbearing species. Over 2,000 species of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and plants are considered nongame species in Nebraska, representing over 95 percent of all species in the state. Some of these species are declining, endangered or on the brink of extinction. The Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund is the state's primary source of funding for monitoring, researching, managing and conserving at-risk species, such as the whooping crane, swift fox, western prairie fringed orchid and blowout penstemon. By supporting the fund, you are taking an active part in conserving our state's diverse and priceless wildlife for future generations. Donations have a big impact as they are matched with other grants, so every dollar donated becomes $4 for helping wildlife. The Wildlife Conservation Fund makes a variety of projects possible, including: • Improving habitat across Nebraska for at-risk species by using funds to restore prairies and control invasive species. Habitat created with these funds also benefits many game species, providing needed cover and food sources. • Preventing future endangered species listings by funding reintroduction projects, such as the now-thriving peregrine falcon, while continuing to fund pollinator and bat surveys, reptile and amphibian research, and a long-billed curlew habitat study. • Connecting wildlife and Nebraskans through projects like "wildcams" for peregrine falcons and ospreys where people can watch these spectacular bird species on video. Funding generated through the 1040N tax form is vital. Without it, education and research programs would not be possible. You may donate all or a portion of your tax refund to the Wildlife Conservation Fund. For those not receiving a state tax refund, check contributions can be made by mail to: Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370. Donations can be made online at OutdoorNebraska.gov; search "Wildlife Conservation Fund" and follow the secure link. HELP NONGAME WILDLIFE SPECIES WITH TAX DONATIONS By Julie Geiser Whooping cranes along the Platte near Brady. JULIE GEISER, NEBRASKALAND Nebraska Game and Parks offers five specialty license plates at the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. Plate designs that benefit the Wildlife Conservation Fund include the bighorn sheep, sandhill crane and ornate box turtle. Two other plates also support Game and Parks efforts. The Bike/Walk Nebraska plate supports trail maintenance at state parks. Nebraska has hundreds of miles of trails, including hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, cross country skiing and water trails. Mountain lion conservation plates benefit the Game and Parks education fund to provide youth education programs relating to wildlife conservation practices. A specialty plate is $5 or $40 for a personalized one. The $5 fee goes directly to the Wildlife Conservation Fund, Game and Parks State Park Improvement and Maintenance Fund or Game & Parks Commission Education Fund. Of the $40 fee, $30 goes to the conservation fund and $10 goes to the DMV Cash Fund. Conservation License Plates

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