Habitat Management for Wildlife

Connecticut's wildlife resources are managed to maintain stable, healthy populations of wildlife, including endangered and threatened species, in numbers compatible with both habitat carrying capacity and existing land use practices. To support a diversity of wildlife, habitats are managed on state forests and wildlife management areas. Educational programs and technical assistance are provided to enhance privately-owned habitats and promote an appreciation for the value of Connecticut's wildlife. Hunting seasons and bag limits are regulated for harvestable wildlife species. Public hunting opportunities are managed on state-owned, state-leased, and permit-required areas. And, with volunteer assistance, conservation education and safety programs are provided to promote safe and ethical hunting practices.

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Controlling Invasive Phragmites in Connecticut's Wetlands

This fact sheet provides information on how invasive Phragmites australis is controlled in freshwater and saltwater marshes.

Connecticut's Young Forest Habitat Initiative

The Wildlife Division, in cooperation with other partners, has initiated the Young Forest Habitat Initiative to help restore important habitats. Projects associated with this initiative include: 1) New England Cottontail Restoration; 2) Shrubland Bird Monitoring; and 3) American Woodcock Habitat Use and Survival.

Young Forest Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

This cooperative program provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners interested in implementing habitat management projects to create young forest habitat for wildlife.

Connecticut's Wildlife Action Plan

The final version of the 2015 Connecticut Wildlife Action Plan was approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in January 2016. This plan establishes both a state and national framework for proactively conserving our fish and wildlife, including their habitats, for the next 10 years.

Federal Funding for Fish and Wildlife

The Fisheries and Wildlife Divisions of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection receive the majority of their funding through federal grants. Two grant programs, the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration and the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration, have been particularly important. These programs were initiated by sportsmen and conservationists to provide states with funding for fish and wildlife management and research, habitat acquisition, and sportsmen education programs.

Content last updated on April 6, 2020.