The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is seeking nominations for its Lawrence G. Diedrick Small Game Award. This prestigious honor recognizes meaningful contributions of an individual or organization that benefit North Carolina’s small game populations and/or small game habitat. This includes efforts in habitat management, education and research. In some cases, small game, such as bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, squirrel, rabbit, benefit significantly from efforts focused on non-game or other species with similar habitat requirements.

The award is named for the late Larry Diedrick, a lawyer and a former Wildlife Commissioner (1993-2001) from Rocky Mount who was well-known for his passion and advocacy of wildlife conservation, in particular small game. After Commissioner Diedrick’s death in 2002, friends made memorial contributions to the N.C. Wildlife Endowment Fund to support an annual small game award in his honor. The award was established in 2003.

Nominations can be made in two categories, Individual and Organization.

• In the individual category, past award winners have been landowners who improved and integrated small game habitat into their forestry or farming operations.
• In the organization category, past award winners have included corporations, government agencies, and non-government organizations whose actions improved small game habitat.

Winners are selected by the Wildlife Commission’s Small Game Committee and will be recognized formally in the fall at a Wildlife Commission business meeting. A plaque listing all winners is prominently displayed in the Wildlife Commission headquarters, and winners also receive a memento related to their efforts. 

Nominations must include the following information:

• Name of person or organization being nominated, including address, phone and e-mail.
• Name of person making the nomination, including address, phone and e-mail.
• Detailed description of the methods the nominee has used to further conservation of small game species.
• Commitment, effort and longevity of the nominee’s efforts.
• Accomplishments and results of the nominee’s efforts.
• How the nominee’s efforts impact small game populations at the local, regional or state-wide scale.
• The long-lasting benefit to small game populations which will result from the nominee’s efforts.
   

Nominations should be submitted April 26 through June 30 by email or by mail:
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Wildlife Management Division, c/o Diedrick Small Game Award
1722 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1722

For more information about previous award recipients, visit the agency’s Lawrence G. Diedrick Small Game Award webpage.