4H Wildlife Competition

The past year the kids have delved into the 4H Wildlife/Forestry/Fishery Project.  It was the first year for our county to have a senior Wildlife team, and the crocodile hunter was in his element.  I am amazed by what they had to learn - the ability to identify 45 species of animals from their skulls/pelts/calls, answer questions concerning the habitat and life of these animals, determine wildlife management practices to manage a piece of land for certain species, and finally - with a team of 4 create a plan to manage a specific piece of property (several acres which they must explore on their own) for 5 to 6 species - writing a two page management plan detailing their recommendations.  They must then each defend that plan orally before wildlife resource management agents.

Dr. Harper teaching the kids about sericea lespedeza

We have spent many hours over the past year studying pelts, learning the differences between a raccoon skull and a red fox skull, discerning the difference between the many sparrows by feather and call!  We trudged through forests and wetlands, we practiced scenarios for management.  The result was our team of high schoolers went to the regional competition and competed against teams who have years of experience - and we managed to squeak in to qualify for state!  

So, off to the state competition where I learned that my bladder can go 7 hours without a bathroom and I became very comfortable with the presence of timber rattlesnakes!

And while they didn't win state, our group of kids managed to place 6th among 11 teams who have all been doing this for 3-5 years!  We are incredibly proud of them, and look forward to seeing how they do next year.

headed out to evaluate the land a create a management plan