Wildlife Forever and USDA Forest Service Offers Grants to Combat Invasive Species in the Great Lakes

White Bear Lake, MN – Wildlife Forever is proud to continue a partnership grant program with the USDA Forest Service focused on implementing community outreach to prevent Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in the Great Lakes region. This collaboration is made possible through the generous support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Through a simple grant request, organizations and agencies will gain access to a wide range of high- quality materials designed to increase awareness and understanding of AIS and promote effective prevention measures. Outreach materials include educational resources, such as brochures, posters, decals, and Clean Drain Dry products, available for viewing and purchase at CleanDrainDry.org.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with the USDA Forest Service in addressing the threat of invasive species across the Great Lakes,” said Zach Burnside, invasive species program manager at Wildlife Forever.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has long been at the forefront of efforts to preserve and restore the Great Lakes ecosystem. For over a decade, the collaboration between Wildlife Forever and USDA Forest Service Eastern Region has served as a testament to the shared commitment of combatting AIS and preserving the ecological health of the region.

Community organizations and agencies interested in accessing free educational and promotional materials are encouraged to visit the grant application for more information on eligibility and the application process.

The Clean Drain Dry Initiative™ is a state and national public awareness campaign to educate outdoor recreational users on how to prevent the spread of invasive species. Coordinated messaging focuses on strategic content, marketing communications, and outreach tools.

About Wildlife Forever: Our mission is to conserve America’s fish and wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat and management of fish and wildlife. Wildlife Forever is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to investing resources on the ground. Recent audits reveal that 94% of every dollar supports our award-winning conservation programs. Please, Join Today and learn more about the Art of Conservation® program, Clean Drain Dry Initiative™ and Prairie City USA® at www.WildlifeForever.org.

About USDA Forest Service Eastern Region: The USDA Forest Service Eastern Region is one of nine Forest Service administrative regions, consisting of 17 national forests and one national tallgrass prairie. It is also home to the Forest Service’s largest State, Private, and Tribal Forestry program, collaborating with Tribes, States, communities, Federal agencies, private landowners, and other partners to protect, conserve, and manage forests and community trees across 20 States and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r9.

Contact: Zach Burnside – zburnside@wildlifeforever.org