Connecticut’s wildlife will soon have a new roadmap, and UConn researchers are helping draw it. Faculty members Chadwick and Tracy Rittenhouse and Ph.D. student Kathryn Bischoff ‘22 from CAHNR’s Department of Natural Resources and the Environment partnered with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) on the state’s latest Wildlife Action Plan.

Updated every 10 years, the plan pinpoints animal species most in need of conservation, identifies their habitats, and outlines strategies to protect them. The 2025 version builds on earlier reports by mapping “Conservation Opportunity Areas,” giving communities, land trusts, and governments clear guidance on where to focus efforts such as habitat restoration, vegetation management, land protection, and wildlife surveys.

The process brought together conservation groups, municipal leaders, outdoor clubs, and expert “Taxa Teams” specializing in birds, insects, mammals, and more. Public input is also shaping the plan, ensuring residents could weigh in on priorities for their communities.

“There are a lot of people involved, and there’s a lot of motivation and goodwill to do things well for conservation in the state,” Chadwick Rittenhouse says. “We’re really optimistic that good things will come for wildlife and fisheries in the state through this effort.”

By uniting science, partnerships, and public engagement, the plan offers a stronger foundation for protecting Connecticut’s wildlife.

s.uconn.edu/wildlife