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Virginia BearWise Community Cost-Share Program

Funding Announcement

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is pleased to announce funding available through our BearWise Community Cost-Share Program. Since 2013, DWR has allocated funding to assist towns, cities, and counties of the Commonwealth to minimize human-bear conflicts. Funds are used to secure anthropogenic bear attractants such as garbage. Funds have been used to retrofit dumpsters with bear-resistant lids, erect electric fencing around public dump-sites, and cost sharing on residential bear-resistant curbside garbage cans. This non-grant funding is made available as a cost-share; all applicants are required to contribute financially, in-kind, or in combination, for a minimum 30% match of total project cost. Interested local governments should work with their local District Wildlife Biologist to discuss their project (see contact information for the appropriate DWR Regional Office).

Interested applicants can submit their application using the link below. Only online applications are accepted. Applicants can print the application in advance to ensure they have all the materials requested on the application.

The application deadline is October 1, 2023.

Virginia BearWise Community Cost-Share Program Application