Dane and Dodge County, 4 Others, Awarded $100K in Wisconsin Habitat Grants

Recently I've spent much more time hiking in and through the beautiful state of Wisconsin. Trips to Devils Lake, great food and views in Baraboo, and the always wonderful Governor Dodge State Park. There's so much to explore across the state and it's easy to see that Wisconsin takes great pride in their area parks and natural features. Fees for passes and visitors alike go back into maintaining and caring for the parks and other natural areas. Now the Wisconsin DNR has announced that over $100,000 from the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund will play a big role in 6 separate habitat projects. Looks like I may have some new places to explore in the not-so-distant future.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (NRF) awarded grants that will support conservation work in six separate areas of the state, as well as a multi-county volunteer initiative across Dane, Columbia, Jefferson, Waukesha and Walworth counties. The Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund is unique because it’s powered largely by voluntary donations, usually provided when hunters and anglers add a few extra dollars to their license purchase. Basically, it's people like you and me investing in the very lands we love to explore and enjoy.

Each project focuses on improving wildlife habitat and restoring the native ecosystems. Not far from us in Dane County, $14,400 will help remove invasive brush and plant native species at Governor Nelson State Park. In nearby Dodge County, $10,540 will expand native prairie at Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area, supporting waterfowl and rare grassland species.  Additionally, $16,600 will equip volunteer groups with tools to restore habitat across several southern Wisconsin counties.

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Other areas receiving funding:

• Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit – Fond du Lac County: $15,596 for the first phase of habitat restoration near the Ice Age Visitor Center, including removing invasive glossy buckthorn and conducting a prescribed burn to encourage native plant growth.
• Cedarburg Bog State Natural Area – Ozaukee County: $20,000 to remove invasive buckthorn threatening one of southern Wisconsin’s largest and least-disturbed wetlands. The bog supports rare plants, nearly 300 bird species, reptiles, amphibians and other unique wildlife.
• Sandhill, Wood County & Meadow Valley Wildlife Areas – Wood County: $24,000 to enhance habitat for the Karner blue butterfly and improve oak barrens in the Central Sands region. This work also boosts habitat for upland game birds, deer and turkey.

It’s nice to know that the same landscapes my family has been bable to explore and enjoy in Wisconsin are being cared for and protected. The Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund ensures that every trail we hike, every marsh we visit, and every wildlife encounter we enjoy is part of a lasting investment in the state’s natural beauty. Thanks to these efforts, the places we love today will remain vibrant and accessible for generations to enjoy.