Best Wildlife Charities

These organizations ensure the propagation of a truly wild wilderness.

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Do you love animals -- even the kind with big, sharp, scary teeth? Do you cherish the idea of an America where the buffalo roam -- accompanied by wolves, coyotes and mountain lions? Then here's the charity for you. The Defenders of Wildlife has several programs to help reintroduce predators in the West by transferring the economic costs from ranchers to the (mostly) city folk who like the concept of truly wild wilderness. Ranchers can be reimbursed the fair-market value of sheep or cattle killed by wolves or grizzly bears. The group also provides subsidies for dogs to guard flocks. More concerned about creatures that swim, flip and dive? Then consider The Wildlife Trust. Its Edge of the Sea program, among other things, is testing new boat designs that may reduce manatee deaths and injuries from collisions.

From Reader's Digest - May 2005