Before 2024 slips further into the past, let's take a minute to explore the wildlife successes and challenges that filled the fiscal year for Georgia DNR's Wildlife Conservation Section and our partners.

It was a big year, from the return of red-cockaded woodpeckers to Sprewell Bluff Wildlife Management Area and a new state record for prescribed burning to being this close to reaching DNR's long-standing goal of permanently protecting 65 large gopher tortoise populations in Georgia.

And it's all in this annual report, which you can leaf through online or download a copy. There's even a summary version.

The Wildlife Conservation Section works to save and restore Georgia's native wildlife that aren't fished for or hunted, plus rare plants and natural habitats. Yet the agency also depends primarily on fundraisers, grants and contributions.

Want to help conserve these animals, plants and places? Here are five important ways:

1. Buy an eagle or monarch butterfly license plate or renew these or an older plate design, like the hummingbird tag. Most of the $25 fee goes directly to wildlife.
2. Donate to the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com. Simply click "Licenses and Permits" to create an account and give.
3. Contribute through the Wildlife Conservation Fund state income-tax checkoff. Details at georgiawildlife.com/donations.
4. Purchase a hunting or fishing license. A license returns to Georgia wildlife the fee plus as much as $45 in federal excise taxes paid by hunters and anglers.
5. Volunteer with DNR and join conservation organizations such as our friends group, The Environmental Resources Network. More at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com and tern.homestead.com.