A couple who enjoyed New Hampshire’s outdoors left $144,000 from their estate to the state Fish and Game Department for its K-9 and endangered wildlife programs.

Clarence and Gertrude Sleeper, of Littleton, traveled through New England and other areas, skied, gardened, and had three dogs. They died in December 2019 in what was determined to be a murder-suicide after both had suffered health issues and limited mobility, the Caledonian-Record reported.

Late last month, the Executive Council authorized the department to accept the donation to help the programs survive. It came as “a complete surprise to us,” said Col. Kevin Jordan, the department’s top law enforcement officer.

The K-9 teams are used in search-and-rescue missions and finding missing people, such as stranded hikers. They also help in criminal investigations.

The Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program monitors and manages more than 400 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians not hunted, trapped or fish, as well as thousands of insect species. The program also provides outreach and education and works with other state agencies on conservation strategies.

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