Grants from Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund will help support habitat projects

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (NRF) encourage hunters purchasing their licenses to consider donating to the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund, which helps fund conservation projects around the state.

Established to protect, restore and improve habitat for Wisconsin’s plants and animals, the fund allows the public to invest in the public lands and waters where they recreate.

The Cherish Fund is primarily built through voluntary contributions from the public when they purchase their hunting and fishing licenses through the DNR’s Go Wild license portal.

“Donations to the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund restore a range of habitats that support wildlife throughout our state. Threatened species, endangered species and game species are all part of our state’s incredible biodiversity,” said David Clutter, NRF executive director. “This is a great way for hunters, anglers and other nature enthusiasts to help improve the public lands we all enjoy.”

“The Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund is a powerful, public-led effort to give back to the state-managed lands our hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts love,” said DNR Deputy Secretary Steven Little. “The fund, now nearly $3 million, will continue to help improve and protect critical habitat across the state for years to come.”

The DNR and NRF are pleased to announce that nearly $80,000 in recent funding will help support five habitat projects on public lands in Calumet, Dane, Florence, Sauk and Vilas counties.

The selected projects represent high-priority habitat restoration work from across the state, supporting both wildlife-dependent recreation and the conservation of rare species.

Calumet County

At High Cliff State Park, grant funds will remove invasive species on a 30-acre restored prairie where autumn olive and buckthorn have been crowding out native prairie plants. The park is open to a wide variety of outdoor recreation activities, from hunting to hiking, and is also home to the federally endangered rusty patched bumblebee, the state threatened yellow bumblebee and many species in decline, such as native bats and migratory birds.

Dane County

At Lodi Marsh Wildlife Area, grant funds will improve prairie remnants by removing invasive brush. This will ultimately allow the prairie to expand and connect two different prairie areas, increasing pollinator habitat. The site’s prairie and oak savanna/woodland are used by many Species of Greatest Conservation Need and utilized by people for hunting, fishing, paddling and birding. It is also a very popular segment of the Ice Age Trail.

Florence County

At Spread Eagle Barrens State Natural Area, grant funds will remove invasive species, especially woody shrubs that are encroaching on globally significant bracken grassland and barrens habitat. This will help restore open areas and clear the way for prescribed burning, improving habitat for both rare species and wild game. Spread Eagle Barrens is a popular destination for hunting, fishing, hiking, bird watching, berry picking, snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling.

Sauk County

At Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area, grant funds will increase the grassland habitat by removing the thick shrubby border at the edges of the prairie, creating more connection with the large neighboring restored prairie stewarded by the Ho-Chunk Nation. The site is an Important Bird Area, with rare species such as Henslow’s sparrow, whip-poor-will, bobolink, and Bell's vireo, popular for birdwatching, hunting, trapping and hiking.

Vilas County

At Northern Highland–American Legion State Forest, grant funds will be used to mow brush, apply herbicides, remove excess trees to reclaim forest openings and maintain natural frost pockets as open habitat. These openings support game species such as ruffed grouse and elk and several of the area’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need, including the American woodcock and golden-winged warbler. 

The projects were chosen through a grant application process and reviewed by an engaged stakeholder group, including Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Whitetails Unlimited, Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership and the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association. The DNR and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin are grateful for these organizations’ participation in selecting Cherish projects.