Pages Tagged With: "fish and wildlife"
Operation Game Theft Report Form
Use this form to report wildlife crime through DNREC’s Operation Game Theft. Information supplied in this form is strictly confidential and will not be released to the public. Use this form to report a crime that is not in progress. If you need to report a wildlife crimeOperation Game Theft
The Operation Game Theft Fund was established by the Delaware General Assembly to assist in the apprehension and conviction of game law violators. Rewards of up to $1,000 are available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of violators.Habitat Condition
Forest and Upland Habitats and Condition Delaware contains approximately 1.25 million land acres, of which approximately 359,000 are forested. The definition of forest used to determine forest acreage includes traditional, non-urban areas with forest cover. Forest Extent Delaware, once mostly forested, has lost over half of its forests sinceHabitat Classification
Species – Habitat Associations Background The concept of habitat in ecology includes the geographic, biotic, and abiotic factors that determine the occurrence of a species at a given place and time. The habitat of a species can be defined by the relative presence or absence on the landscape ofNatural Disturbance Regimes in Delaware
Disturbance and Diversity Patterns of natural disturbance are vital in understanding the distribution of species and habitats on the landscape. Numerous birds, invertebrates, and other species depend on habitats shaped and maintained by disturbance, including early successional habitats, floodplains, coastal systems, and fire-maintained systems. These periodic disturbances create habitat heterogeneity, promote speciesPhysiography
EPA Ecoregions Woods et al. (1999) described the USEPA Ecoregions of the Mid-Atlantic. Delaware contains parts of three Level III EPA Ecoregions: the Northern Piedmont (64), the Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain (63), and the Southeastern Plains (65). Level III EcoregionLevel IV Ecoregion Approximate Acreage Northern Piedmont Piedmont Uplands (64c) 60,617Southeastern Plains Chesapeake Rolling CoastalDelaware Habitats in a Watershed Context
Delaware’s land area drains to three major watersheds, and contains four main drainage basins: the Piedmont, Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, and Inland Bays/Atlantic Ocean basins. Managing Nature by the Basin: Delaware’s Big-Picture Approach Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has been implementing a drainage basin approach to assess,Delaware Habitats in a Regional Context
U.S. Northeast Region Delaware’s Outsized Role in Regional Conservation Delaware falls within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Northeast Region, which encompasses 13 states from Maine to Virginia. The Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (NEAFWA), the professional association that serves as the collective voice of the NortheastDelaware’s Wildlife Habitats
Delaware’s Ecological Setting Delaware is the second smallest of the United States with a land area of 1,982 mi², or just over 1.25 million acres. The state consists of three counties, New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. About 95% of the state lies within the Atlantic Coastal Plain province, and about 5% (northernNatural Resources Police Fish and Wildlife Unit
The Fish and Wildlife Unit protects wildlife and fisheries resources, promotes boating education and safety, promotes ethical hunting and fishing and responds to boating emergencies. The unit is also a partner in Delaware’s Homeland Security maritime mission.Hunting, Fishing and Boating Violations
Mammals
Mammal Diversity of Delaware Swimming mink. Photo: USFWS Delaware is home to a wide variety of mammals. DFW serves as an important source of information about mammal populations hunted in the state. Species managed by the agency and hunted or trapped,From Argentina to the Arctic: How Delaware’s Beaches Fuel Epic Shorebird Migrations
Every May, huge numbers of shorebirds like red knots, ruddy turnstones and sanderlings stop in Delaware as they migrate north to the Arctic to mate. Our state is a key rest stop for these species, which take advantage of the Delaware Bay’s location as prime horseshoe crab spawning grounds to feast on their eggs. What have scientists learned from carefully studying these birds for more than 40 years?Preserving All the Wonder of Wildlife for Years to Come: How the Delaware Wildlife Action Plan Helps Protect Thousands of Species
Delaware is home to more than 2,800 known animal species. Many are doing just fine or even thriving, but some are experiencing harder times. About 700 of these animals, as well as some 300 plant species, are included in Delaware’s draft 2025-2035 Wildlife Action Plan as Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Learn more about how the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control uses the plan to preserve our flora and fauna, including 90 animal species designated as endangered, in this offering from Outdoor Delaware.Public Hearing: Delaware Wildlife Regulations
The DNEC Division of Fish and Wildlife will conduct a public hearing to consider comments from the public on proposed revisions to the state’s Wildlife regulations.Update and Revision of Delaware’s SGCN List
As part of the federal requirement to address conservation of the broad array of wildlife in Delaware, 688 species and subspecies were identified as SGCN during the 2015 Wildlife Action Plan Revision. Beginning in April of 2023, the criteria and SGCN list were reevaluated, resulting in a list of 1019 species, subspecies, and varieties ofReview, Revision and Working Together
Introduction This section addresses Elements 6, 7 and 8, discussing the process of developing, reviewing and revising the DEWAP, outreach and coordination with partners, stakeholders, and the general public both during the 2025 Delaware Wildlife Action Plan (DEWAP) revision process and the approach to be taken over the next 10-year implementation period.DEWAP Data
Species and Habitat Monitoring
Introduction Monitoring Delaware’s species of greatest conservation need (SGCN), their habitats, and the effectiveness of the conservation actions identified in the Delaware Wildlife Action Plan will provide information for Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and its partners to measure success of theExecutive Summary
A Ten-Year Strategy for Wildlife and Habitat Conservation This Delaware Wildlife Action Plan (DEWAP) presents a 10-year strategy for keeping today’s wildlife from becoming tomorrow’s memory. It is comprehensive in terms of the species, habitats, issues, and actions it addresses, in order to fulfill a mandate making Delaware eligible for federal fundingWaterbirds
Waterbird Diversity of Delaware The North American Waterbird Conservation Plan, a project of the Waterbird Conservation for the Americas Initiative (www.waterbirdconservation.org), assessed the abundance and distribution of 210 waterbird species in North America and found that one-third of colonial nesting waterbirds are at risk of serious population declines. Eleven pelagic seabirds areBirds
Avian Diversity of Delaware Norther Bobwhite quail in flowers.Photo: Steve Maslowski / USFWS Species Richness The Delaware State List of Bird Species includes 429 species that have been accepted by the Delaware Bird Records Committee (DBRC) as of 2024. This official state list includes accidental andDelaware Wildlife and SGCN
Introduction The Delaware Wildlife Action Plan (DEWAP) provides information on the distribution and abundance of species, including those with low or declining populations, that exemplify the diversity and health of Delaware’s fish and wildlife. The DEWAP Revision process began with a review of current national, regional, and statewide information available for theThe 2025-2035 Delaware Wildlife Action Plan
DRAFTDelaware’s Wildlife Action Plan charts a path toward a thriving future for fish, wildlife, and the habitats they depend on. Rooted in science and shaped by collaboration, it focuses conservation where it matters most to protect the natural legacy we share. The following 2025-2035 Delaware Wildlife Action Plan is currently a draft,Public Comment on an Environmental Assessment of a Proposal to Construct a New Wildlife Observation Tower, Boardwalk, and Parking at the Assawoman Wildlife Area
The Division of Fish and Wildlife proposes to replace the existing observation tower at Assawoman Wildlife Area.Inside DNREC’s Efforts to Save America’s Tiniest Turtle
In northern New Castle County, a tiny population of North America’s smallest turtle is receiving a lift thanks to efforts from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. While once home to populations at several different sites, today Delaware has only about 20 adult bog turtles across two habitats. However, DNREC is working to help the species thrive once more.Wildlife Action Plan Comment Form
Please use the form below to share your comments with the DNREC team working on the latest revision of the Delaware Wildlife Action Plan and the Wildlife Action Plan Database. Please review the draft Wildlife Action Plan including the data behind the plan and the functionality of the new interface. If youWilmington Falcon Fledge Watch Volunteers
The Wilmington Falcon Fledge Watch relies on community scientist volunteers who dedicate time each year to monitor young Peregrine falcons leaving their nest site – a nest box on the 19th floor of the Brandywine Building in Wilmington.Contact Us
Peregrine Falcon Monitoring and Management
The DNREC Division of Fish and wildlife works with volunteers and other partners to monitor and study Peregrine falcons.Contact Us
Jordan Brown Raptor, Grassland and Forest Bird Biologist 302-255-1960
