Iowa taxpayers have an opportunity to support vulnerable wildlife by donating to the Fish and Wildlife Fund, also known as the Chickadee Checkoff of their state tax forms. These donations support the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Wildlife Diversity Program, funding research, habitat development, and education for non-game wildlife species. In 2023, more than 5,300 taxpayers donated approximately $134,000, a decrease of $14,000 from the previous year. Despite the drop, the program continues to make a meaningful impact. The Wildlife Diversity Program is not funded by general taxpayer dollars and relies on voluntary contributions and the sale of Natural Resources License Plates. Projects supported in 2024 included the banding and tracking of 34 wood thrushes, a species that has declined by nearly 50 percent since 1966, and the rediscovery of the Starhead Topminnow, a fish not seen in Iowa since the 1930s. Volunteers also helped launch the Iowa Bumble Bee Atlas, recording nearly 1,200 bumble bees across 10 species. If every Iowa taxpayer donated just a dollar, the program could raise $1.6 million for wildlife conservation. For more information on how to contribute, follow the link included below.
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