CONTACT:
Michael Marchand: (603) 271-2461
Jay Martin: (603) 271-3211
May 20, 2022
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program has worked tirelessly to restore endangered wildlife in New Hampshire, but these victories would not be possible without the support of Granite State residents and visitors. Today, on National Endangered Species Day, the Program reminds supporters to contribute to the 2022 Annual Appeal. The State of New Hampshire offers a $100,000 challenge grant to fund the work of the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program, but to qualify the program must raise an equal amount in private contributions by June 30, 2022. These funds are also critical in order to meet federal grant-matching requirements. Visit www.wildnh.com/nongame to donate.
There are currently 51 species on the New Hampshire threatened and endangered wildlife list. Of these, 12 are also protected by the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department works in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, other federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, volunteers, and landowners to conserve and recover these species. As one example, bald eagles have been delisted on both the state and federal endangered wildlife lists as a result of these strong partnership efforts. With continued public support through private donations, the Department’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program has led efforts which have successfully worked toward the restoration of populations such as piping plovers, Canada lynx, and terns.
Last year was a record-setting summer for the state-endangered and federally threatened piping plovers nesting on Hampton and Seabrook Beaches. The thirteen pairs of birds recorded represented best ever numbers not seen since the project began in 1997. However, the season also included several challenges to the developing chicks, demonstrating the importance of NH Fish and Game biological monitors and trained volunteers. NH Fish and Game biologists monitor piping plover breeding activity on the beaches, protect nests with exclosure fencing, and educate the public about the species. Conservation efforts by many partners, and the cooperation of beachgoers, have helped the piping plover population reach close to 2,000 pairs along the Atlantic Coast since the bird was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1986. To learn more about New Hampshire’s Piping Plover Project visit: www.wildnh.com/nongame/project-plover.html.
Canada lynx, which are federally threatened and state endangered, had disappeared from New Hampshire by the 1970s. Sightings were rare over the next 30 years until 2011 when four lynx kittens were observed in Pittsburg. Sightings of lynx and evidence of their presence continue to increase. NH Fish and Game monitored lynx using a large network of remote trail cameras. Since the cameras were first deployed in 2014, lynx have been detected 96 times on 26 different cameras. Survey work was coordinated with the Northeast Climate Science Center, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service. Wildlife corridors are critical for the conservation of wildlife in New Hampshire, including Canada lynx, and now New Hampshire has a statewide map of wildlife corridors to aid in conservation efforts. To learn more about the NH Wildlife Corridors project, visit https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/nongame/corridors.html.
“Once a species is imperiled to the point that it is listed as endangered, recovery is often difficult and can take many years,” said Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program Supervisor Mike Marchand. “We are thrilled that bald eagles are now recovered in both New Hampshire and across the country and that we are having success recovering other species.” In addition to the effort invested in recovering federally endangered species, the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program and partners are investing in conserving a large number of wildlife species, before federal listing is warranted, such as Blanding’s and spotted turtles. The NH Wildlife Action Plan identifies actions necessary to conserve 169 Species in Greatest Need of Conservation, along with the diverse habitats in which they exist.
To help restore species such as the piping plovers, Canada lynx, and others, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is asking the public to support its 2021 appeal for its Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program. Visit www.wildnh.com/nongame to learn more about the program and to donate.