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now fund surveys that collect those species’ distribution and range information
as well as population stability information.”
These survey-based assessments not only help the Wildlife Department in its
conservation mission but come with the added benefit of providing data to the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during its species status assessments, especially
when the federal agency has been petitioned to add protections for a species
through the Endangered Species Act.
“When a species has been petitioned for listing, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service looks to state agencies during the status assessment process. A lot
of times now, because of work funded by the State Wildlife Grants Program,
we’re able to provide the information and data collected in Oklahoma, and the
Service can make an informed decision.”

20-PLUS YEARS OF NONGAME CONSERVATION AT A GLANCE:
PLANNING, PARTNERSHIPS … AND SO MANY SURVEYS

When the Wildlife Department received its first round of State Wildlife Grant
funding in 2002, it activated its network of conservation-minded partners to
help identify the state’s species of greatest conservation need and outline
An early state wildlife grant project , funded
in 2003 and led by Oklahoma State University, actions that could benefit those species. Twenty-one years later, more than 100
inspired a series of additional alligator snapping
turtle projects that resulted in the reintroduction grants have been completed, spanning conservation planning efforts, the pur-
of the species into several watersheds by chase of habitat to enhance wildlife populations, and species assessments such
the Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery with
support from Missouri State University. as the American alligator projects that began in 2022.

JENA DONNELL/ODWC

32 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA