Best states for wildlife protection

SmileHub - With over 1,300 endangered and threatened species across the U.S. that need our support to survive, the non-profit organization SmileHub today released new reports on the Best Charities for Animals and the Best States for Wildlife Protection in 2026 to highlight leaders in conservation and inspire greater efforts to protect wildlife.

SmileHub compared each of the 50 states using 17 key metrics. The data set ranges from the number of animal charities per capita to the amount of state wildlife grant money per capita to the overexploitation of wild species.

Best States for Wildlife Protection	States in Need of Improvement
1. Vermont	41. Delaware
2. Wyoming	42. Tennessee
3. Oregon	43. South Carolina
4. Colorado	44. North Carolina
5. California	45. Arizona
6. Alaska	46. Georgia
7. Maine	47. Ohio
8. New Hampshire	48. Kansas
9. Washington	49. Mississippi
10. Montana	50. Nevada

Key Stats

• California has the most animal charities per capita – 8.6 times more than Delaware, which has the fewest charities.
   
• Alaska has the most state wildlife grant dollars per capita – 53.5 times more than California, which has the least.
   
• Alaska has the most state land designated for parks and wildlife – 77.6 times more than Iowa, which has the least.

Full report and your state’s rank