DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife manages approximately 68,000 acres of land that provides habitat for a multitude of wild plants, animals, fish, insects and rare species of all kinds. And it spearheads several important wildlife and habitat conservation and education initiatives, including the Delaware Wildlife Action Plan and the Delaware Shorebird Project.

Delawareans interact with wildlife and wild lands in several ways. They hunt and fish. They watch birds and other wildlife. And they take an active role in wildlife conservation. The Outdoors and Recreation topic page includes more information on getting out into nature in Delaware.

Featured Links

Wildlife Conservation

The Delaware Wildlife Action Plan guides Delaware’s conservation efforts. It includes a History of Conservation in Delaware. DNREC’s Conservation Programs include details on Delaware’s Endangered Species and offers a number of publications and manages several conservation projects. These include regular surveys of habitat and species, such as the aerial waterfowl survey program, which has published data on waterfowl populations back to 1974 on the Delaware Open Data Portal.

Delawareans take part in many opportunities to interact with wildlife and assist in conservation programs, including:

The Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey (Explore Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey Data back to 1999 on the Delaware Open Data Portal.)

The Delaware Shorebird Project

Osprey Monitoring and Management

The Wild Turkey Survey

And they are fans of observing wildlife, visiting on-line wildlife cameras such as the Osprey Camera and the Harbor Camera at the DuPont Nature Center.

Have a Wildlife Concern?

We share Delaware with populations of different wildlife and sometimes our interactions raise questions or concerns or cause problems. DNREC can help with some of these, or point you in the right direction.

Deer Damage Assistance Programs for farmers

Information about Coyotes in Delaware

An online app to help you find a nuisance wildlife control operator

A regional information source (wildlifehelp.org) to help people find sound, legal and ethical advice for nuisance wildlife control and prevention

If you think there’s an animal with rabies, contact the Division of Public Health at 302-744-4995 or toll-free at 1-866-972-9705

If there’s a dead animal on or near a roadway, use the DelDOT Report an Issue app (select “Dead Animal”) or contact the DelDOT Transportation Management Center at 302-659-4600, #77 on your cell, or through e-mail at deldottmc@delaware.gov

For questions about ownership and breeding of exotic animals, visit the Dept. of Agriculture’s Poultry and Animal Health Section

Hunting and Trapping

Fishing

The Fisheries Section supports recreational and commercial fishing and studies and helps manage aquatic resources and habitat. It publishes the annual Delaware Fishing Guide (también disponible en español). Other popular links include:

The Delaware Fishing Report

How to Buy a Fishing License

Find a Freshwater Pond to Fish

Facts on the more than 180 species of fish and shellfish that may be found in Delaware waters

The Take a Kid Fishing! Program

A summary of current commercial fish regulations in Delaware

Fish consumption advisories for Delaware waters

Learn More

Important Phone Numbers

To make illegal hunting and fishing complaints, or to report wildlife emergencies, contact the Fish and Wildlife Natural Resources Police: 800-523-3336

Or contact Operation GameTheft: 800-292-3030

For information about fish and wildlife conservation and management in Delaware, contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife: 302-739-9910

For information on game and non-game species, habitat, wildlife areas, and hunting, contact the Wildlife Section: 302-739-9912

For information on commercial and recreational fishing, contact the Fisheries Section: 302-739-9914

For information about rabies, contact the Division of Public Health: 302-744-4995 or toll-free at 1-866-972-9705

To report a dead animal on or near a roadway, contact DelDOT: 302-659-4600

For information about estuaries and the wildlife they provide, contact the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve: 302-739-6377

Public Meetings

Meetings of the Division of Fish and Wildlife

Meetings of Delaware Coastal Programs

Regulations

Horseshoe Crab Regulations (7 DE Admin. Code 3200)

Tidal Finfish (7 DE Admin. Code 3500)

Non-Tidal Finfish (7 DE Admin. Code 3300)

Shellfish (7 DE Admin. Code 3700)

Shellfish Aquaculture (7 DE Admin. Code 3800)

Wildlife (7 DE Admin. Code 3900)

Social Media

The Division of Fish and Wildlife on Facebook

Fish and Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook

Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve on Facebook, X (Formerly Known as Twitter) and Instagram

E-Mail Lists

DNREC Fisheries (Send a blank e-mail to join)

DNREC Wildlife (Send a blank e-mail to join)

Related Topics:  animals, birds, coast, fish, get involved, nature, ocean, outdoors, outdoors and recreation, topic, volunteer, wildlife