National Wildlife Federation, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Grant Program Advances Wildlife Research, Conservation at Nine Colleges, Universities

RESTON, Va. - Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, in collaboration with the National Wildlife Federation, awarded grants to colleges and universities across the United States to advance conservation, research, and education for threatened and endangered species in their communities.

The 2026 grant recipients are California State University Sacramento, Fort Valley State University, Massasoit Community College, Stony Brook University, Thomas More University, the University of Mississippi, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, The University of Texas at El Paso, and West Virginia University.

"We are thrilled to support the nine colleges and universities that have been awarded Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom College and University grants," said Jennifer Wulf, vice president, brand marketing for Mutual of Omaha. "We look forward to seeing the conservation efforts of these students come to life in their local areas to maintain healthy ecosystems and protect our most vulnerable species."

"Wildlife conservation is most successful when we support innovative ideas and empower those bringing them to life," said Kristy Jones, wildlife and nature director for National Wildlife Federation. "These schools strengthen conservation efforts nationwide by investing in wildlife research and education, habitat restoration, and community engagement to benefit species that need it most."

Learn more about the 2026 grant projects:

California State University Sacramento
California State University Sacramento will conduct research to improve conservation strategies for wildlife species affected by environmental change, particularly species living in close association with human infrastructure. The project will focus on the Mexican free-tailed bat, which commonly roosts in bridges and buildings throughout California's Central Valley. Researchers will study how bats regulate body temperature during extreme heat events to help guide wildlife-friendly infrastructure design and improve conservation outcomes for this important species.

Fort Valley State University, Georgia
Fort Valley State University will help restore 100 acres of longleaf pine forest on campus property. Once spanning approximately 90 million acres across the southeastern United States, longleaf pine ecosystems have declined significantly due to human activity. The restoration project will support native wildlife species, create educational opportunities for students and landowners, and foster environmental stewardship through hands-on conservation learning.

Massasoit Community College, Massachusetts
Massasoit Community College will restore and revitalize a native habitat meadow on its Brockton campus by increasing the diversity of native plants, shrubs, and trees while removing invasive species. The meadow supports pollinator species including the half-black bumble bee and Carlin's mining bee. The project builds upon a decade-long pollinator monitoring initiative that has collected and identified approximately 23,000 bee specimens, providing valuable long-term ecological data on pollinator diversity and abundance.

Stony Brook University, New York
Stony Brook University will research pathogens impacting the endangered Atlantic coast leopard frog on Long Island. Using entirely noninvasive methods, researchers will analyze water environmental DNA and aquatic leech blood-meals to detect harmful pathogens including Batrochochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Ranavirus. Findings will help inform evidence-based conservation strategies for amphibian populations and long-term species management.

Thomas More University, Kentucky
Thomas More University will expand its conservation work focused on the eastern hellbender, North America's largest salamander and a proposed endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The university will upgrade laboratory facilities at its biology field station to support research and care for hellbenders throughout their full lifecycle. Expanded capacity and enhanced monitoring systems will improve experimental research and inform conservation practices across a 15-state network of hellbender conservation partners.

University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, will create and study aquatic habitat designed to support dragonflies and damselflies, including the endangered southern snaketail dragonfly. The project will demonstrate the ecological and public health value of urban aquatic habitats while monitoring impacts on biodiversity and mosquito populations. Researchers will compare newly created habitats with existing campus and field station sites to evaluate conservation benefits over time.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will focus conservation efforts on the threatened southern flying squirrel through habitat assessments and nest box installation on East Campus. Researchers will inventory mature trees, identify habitat connectivity gaps, and engage students and campus partners through citizen science and educational outreach aimed at supporting urban wildlife habitat biodiversity.

The University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso will investigate how environmental conditions and human disturbance affect the physiology and movement behavior of the eastern black-tailed rattlesnake in Franklin Mountains State Park. Building on previous biologging research, the project will use GPS tracking technology and physiological monitoring to study movement patterns, habitat use, and interactions with roads and trails. Findings will help park managers reduce human-snake conflict and better understand wildlife behavior in urban desert ecosystems.

West Virginia University
West Virginia University will create pollinator habitat supporting the monarch butterfly and the endangered rusty-patched bumble bee by transforming an existing green roof into a native pollinator garden. The student-led project will feature native plants selected to provide forage throughout the growing season and will include biodiversity monitoring through the iNaturalist platform to assess species presence before and after installation.

About Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
Since its network television premiere in 1963, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom has been one of the most loved and respected wildlife programs in television history. The Daytime Emmy® nominated Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, now airing weekends on NBC's "The More You Know" time block, celebrates stories of conservation success, including the work of experts making a positive impact on wildlife and habitats around the world. For more information about Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, visit wildkingdom.com.