MADISON – National Wildlife Day is celebrated every year to help grow awareness for threatened and endangered species. Wisconsin is home to thousands of species of plants and animals. Among those, nearly 400 wildlife species and 300 plant species are endangered, threatened or at risk.

Donations to the Endangered Resources Fund are critical support for the conservation and protection of rare species and habitats. There are three ways to help:

Give

Make a one-time or recurring gift online or by mail. These gifts as well as tax checkoff donations are matched by state funds up to $500,000 each year.

Endangered Resources License Plates

Show you care for our environment and choose a bald eagle or wolf specialty license plate. These plates include a $25 annual donation with your vehicle registration which makes it easy for you to support this cause every year.

Tax Checkoff Donations

When you complete your income taxes this spring, look for Endangered Resources in the Donations section of your tax form. Give using your refund in one step! Tax checkoff gifts are also a part of the up to $500,000 state match promise.

All donations help us extend our reach to help Wisconsin’s at-risk wildlife when we apply for match-required donations. Donations and federal grants make up the largest portion of funding to care for the songbirds, bats, bumble bees, native mussels, turtles, frogs and more in Wisconsin.

Photo Credit: Edgar Flores Gomez

Published on: Sep 4, 2026 at 8:22 am