OCR Text |
Show Stote wildlife is o foxing responsibility I'm not anxious to contribute part of my wage to any department within the state or federal government govern-ment That's why I save receipts carefully and itemize all deductions on my income tax return. If I am careful, I will get a refund and I can "check off" or donate part of this money that I have earned earn-ed to the state division of wildlife management's non-game wildlife program. - I . - 1 Smr , DON ETA GATHERUM 1 Staff Reporter This program that allows people receiving a state income tax refund to donate a portion of the refund to charitable causes started in 1981. Randy Radant, chief of non-game management for the state, says a significant amount of money is received through the check-off program. pro-gram. 'Utah's population is supportive of non-game wildlife programs," Radant noted. There are several ways your voluntary vol-untary contributions can be used. Radant says the priority project is non-game wildlife management. "We look at threatened and endangered en-dangered species recovery programs. pro-grams. This can be done by reintroducing re-introducing a species native to Utah back into the state or by researching to determine why an animal population popula-tion is declining and how this situation situa-tion can be corrected," Radant said. The most publicized non-game recovery success story is that of the peregrine falcons, the raptors that are best-known in the Beehive State, for nesting on a ledge of the Hotel Utah. When the state started a recovery project to increase the peregrine falcon population, it purchased pur-chased fl edgings that had been raised rais-ed in captivity, raised them to adulthood and then released them into a natural habitat Today, the peregrine falcon population of Utah is self-perpetuating. People all know about the popular pair that nests in Salt Lake City. Few realize that the wildlife management experts have established estab-lished falcon nesting sites along the string of electrical power towers west of Farmington, Kaysville and Layton. Part of the money for this project came from the tax check-off revenues. The return of the American bald eagle has been accomplished because of aggressive wildlife management techniques. Today Utah has the largest winter concentrations concen-trations of American bald eagles in the Western United States. Bird watching days and sites have been publicized by the Division of Wildlife Management and this activity ac-tivity has become a popular family project for many Utahns. Other endangered and threatened species that are being helped through the non-game management programs include the desert tortoise, tor-toise, the Utah prairie dog and many Colorado River fish species. Radant says another goal of the non-game advocates is to establish a base line of information about all non-game species native to Utah. After this is accomplished, each species will be identified as to habitant habi-tant sensitivity, and programs can be developed to help animal populations popula-tions from decreasing. If enough people contribute to the non-game wildlife fund, the state can qualify for some federal funds that match ten percent of the state money with 90 percent federal dollars. Usually the amount of a state income in-come tax refund is less than what you would pay for dinner and a movie. Why not sharpen your pencil pen-cil and place a big check beside the non-game wildlife box on the state tax return instead of spending it foolishly? The peregrine falcons, desert tortoises and bald eagles of the state are betting their lives on our generosity. |