2023 Letter of Appeal
Dear OWF Supporter,
These days we don’t need to look for bad news, it finds us. With the constant drumbeat of climate change, pollution, and habitat loss, it’s natural to wonder if wildlife conservation is a lost cause. We are here to assure you that it isn’t, and with your support, Oregon Wildlife Foundation is committed to restoring and protecting healthy populations of fish and wildlife for the long term.
Many wildlife conservation achievements don’t make headlines. Have you heard about Oregon chub? The population of this unassuming minnow had dwindled from millions to approximately 1,000 fish by 1993. In 2015, through the efforts of the Oregon Chub Working Group, it became the first fish ever to be removed from the endangered species list. That’s a very big deal!
Many wildlife conservation achievements don’t make headlines. Have you heard about Oregon chub? The population of this unassuming minnow had dwindled from millions to approximately 1,000 fish by 1993. In 2015, through the efforts of the Oregon Chub Working Group, it became the first fish ever to be removed from the endangered species list. That’s a very big deal!
Even ‘small’ wins can have an outsized impact. Prairie habitat was once the most expansive ecosystem in North America. Today, it’s one of the smallest and most at risk, occupying just one percent of its historic range. Bradshaw’s lomatium, a member of the parsley family, is native to Oregon’s prairie habitat. After 33 years on the endangered species list, thanks to the joint recovery efforts of local organizations, state agencies, and private landowners in the Willamette Valley, it was delisted in 2021. A beneficiary of this recovery was another prairie plant called Kincaid’s lupine. This plant also happens to be the primary host for Fender’s blue butterfly. Fender’s blue, once thought extinct, is now recovering, in part because Kincaid’s lupine is making a comeback.
Partnerships are at the heart of these and all conservation efforts. With a rich 42 year history, OWF has stood the test of time as a reliable collaborator for agencies including the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, and many others. These organizations like to work with us because we streamline conservation efforts, bypassing bureaucracy and costly overhead to make time-sensitive restoration work happen more quickly and project funding go farther.
There are many organizations and individuals out there doing good work, and even more who care that the work gets done–people just like you. Can we count on your generous contribution this giving season? Your financial support helps us continue to make strides in the race to protect vulnerable species and habitats. Please join us to help ensure a future for Oregon’s fish and wildlife.
Warmest regards,
Tim Greseth
Executive Director
Oregon Wildlife Foundation
