IDNR’s Furbearer Grant Application Period Closes May 15

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for the State Furbearer Fund Special Funds Grant Program through May 15.

The State Furbearer Fund provides grants to appropriate not-for-profit organizations, governmental entities, educational institutions, and corporations for projects that benefit furbearing mammals and improve harvesting opportunities for hunters and trappers of furbearers. Furbearing mammals are defined as badger, beaver, bobcat, coyote, grey fox, mink, muskrat, otter, opossum, raccoon, red fox, skunk, least weasel, and long-tailed weasel.

Grants from the fund support activities and programs undertaken to:

• Educate hunters, trappers and the public about furbearing mammals and their management.
• Provide instruction and training to current and potential hunters and trappers on techniques and laws associated with hunting and trapping furbearing mammals.
• Support scientific research on ecology, conservation or management of furbearing mammals.
• Develop or improve public furbearing mammal habitat management areas within Illinois.

Entities must be registered in the state’s GATA portal prior to applying. Applications will be accepted online in the Amplifund online portal. Go online to search for all current state funding opportunities. For questions or assistance, email susan.duke@illinois.gov.

About IDNR The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was established in 1925 as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes. Today, IDNR’s work encompasses management of about 400 sites across Illinois, including state parks and historic sites; wildlife, fisheries, forestry, and natural heritage; Lake Michigan water allocation and coastal management; conservation police; mines and minerals; oil and gas; issuance of licenses, permits, and numerous grants; the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta; and the Illinois State Museum. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov and follow us on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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