The annual application period is open for the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP), a grant funding program administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The purpose of WHIP is to accomplish large-scale restoration of private and publicly owned high-priority wildlife habitats through noxious weed management. Grant expenditures are limited to herbicide, mechanical, biocontrol, and re-seeding treatments, specifically to restore wildlife habitat functions. Grazing management improvements may also be funded through the program to restore native wildlife habitats and reduce susceptibility to noxious weed invasion.

Grant awards are based on eligibility and competitive ranking. To qualify for funding, projects must: enhance ecologically important wildlife habitat through control or management of noxious weeds that directly threaten habitat functions; use a landscape scale approach; have a reasonable probability of treatment effectiveness; and include a minimum 25 percent non-federal cash match. In addition to considering eligibility factors, ranking criteria includes the number of funding partners and amount of contributions, number of landowners involved, and accessibility of participating lands for public hunting. Awarded grants can be structured to provide funding for up to five years.

NEW: Apply Online! Application forms must be submitted electronically and can be found at https://fundingmt.org using the online WebGrants system. Applicants new to WebGrants must register first before accessing the application forms.

WHIP applications must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 18, 2019, to be considered for funding in 2020. For additional program information, visit the FWP website at http://fwp.mt.gov or search for “Montana Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program”.

If you have questions about applying for a WHIP grant or accessing the application forms, contact Kim Antonick, WHIP Coordinator, at kim.antonick@mt.gov or 406-444-7291.