This grant funds vermont fish and wildlife s research, management, and restoration of game species in the state and is focused on projects related to deer, black bear, migratory birds, moose, turkeys,…

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI FWS) Region 5 awarded $1,470,853 to the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611). This formula grant funds research, management, and restoration initiatives targeting Vermont's game species, including deer, black bear, moose, migratory birds, turkeys, small mammals, and upland game birds, with concurrent support for wildlife disease prevention and response efforts.

The award supports integrated project work across three primary operational components: (1) population inventory, monitoring, and management activities for targeted wildlife species; (2) habitat monitoring and conservation efforts within Vermont's Wildlife Management Areas and public access lands; and (3) human dimensions research and dissemination of findings through hunter and angler education, public outreach, and technical assistance programs. The funding enables the department to execute research and restoration work while advancing both ecological conservation objectives and public participation in Vermont's recreational hunting and wildlife management programs.

This grant funds vermont fish and wildlife s research, management, and restoration of game species in the state and is focused on projects related to deer, black bear, migratory birds, moose, turkeys, small mammals, upland game birds and wildlife disease prevention and response. Each project of a select species or suite of species has specific needs, objectives, approaches, and expected outcomes that apply. Despite this, the approach for each project remains the same: 1) population inventory, monitoring, and management 2) habitat monitoring and conservation and 3) human dimensions and dissemination of results. The grant will fund the research and outreach work for each of the respective projects.