Wildlife Action Plan
Wisconsin's Strategy for Wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need

Wisconsin's Wildlife Action Plan, also known as the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan, is the result of a statewide effort to identify which of our native Wisconsin species are of greatest conservation need. The Plan outlines priority conservation actions to protect species and their habitats and complements other existing conservation plans. It encourages the involvement of all agencies, organizations, and private individuals in taking action to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered and offers a proactive way to conserve wildlife and natural places for future generations.

What is a Wildlife Action Plan?

State wildlife action plans outline the steps that are needed to conserve wildlife and habitat before they become more rare and more costly to protect. Taken as a whole, they present a national action agenda for preventing wildlife from becoming endangered. Read more about wildlife action plans... (exit DNR)

What are Species of Greatest Conservation Need?

Species of Greatest Conservation Need have low and/or declining populations that are in need of conservation action. They include various birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates (e.g. dragonflies, butterflies, and freshwater mussels) that are:

• Already listed as threatened or endangered;
• At risk because of threats to their life history needs or their habitats;
• Stable in number in Wisconsin, but declining in adjacent states or nationally.
• Of unknown status in Wisconsin and suspected to be vulnerable.

What will the Plan do for Wisconsin wildlife?

• Focus our effort to conserve species most at risk
• Save money by keeping species off the endangered/threatened list
• Stress the importance of protecting habitat
• Build partnerships

Wisconsin's Wildlife Action Plan is a strategic approach to wildlife conservation that will give us the ability to conserve wildlife and the lands and waters where they live for future generations.