Wildlife

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University contact person: Dr. Tom Hunt

Event Coordinator:  Randy Tenpas, Dr. Tom Hunt

Information from related Wildlife Events:

• Fox Valley Wildlife/Environmental Resources event
• River Falls Wildlife event
• Janesville Career Development events
• National Environmental/Natural Resources event

Contest Purpose:  The wildlife contest will evaluate general knowledge in the broad area of wildlife conservation.  Since this field is not "well defined" as many more traditional agriculture or lifescience areas, there may be more reliance on references and outdoor experiences as well as on classroom preparation.

Objectives:

1. To provide high school agriculture students with dairy interests a practical experience in the area of natural resources and wildlife conservation.
2. To develop students' skills in the identification of common wild animals in Wisconsin and their basic ecology.
3. To develop students' understanding of the basic laws and regulations pertaining to wildlife.
4. To develop students' skills in the description and use of common wildlife management/research techniques.
5. To develop students' knowledge of current issues in wildlife conservation.

Event format:

This contest will consist of two parts, each requiring about 45 minutes to an hour. A general knowledge part will include an exam containing approximately 50 multiple choice questions. The second part will be a practicum consisting of 25 to 50 mounted specimens, furs, skeletal materials, research tools, photographs, diagrams, and food items for identification and/or description.

Knowledge/Skills needed

I. Use of basic terminology of wildlife ecology/management.

II. Identification of common wild animals of Wisconsin and their basic ecology

• Game Species
• Furbearers
• Non-game species (i.e. songbirds and small mammals)
• Endangered species

III. Understanding of the basic laws and regulations pertaining to wildlife

• Hunting regulations (WI)
• Wildlife conservation laws, acts, treaties (U.S.)
• Wildlife Damage Program (WI)

IV. Description and use of common wildlife management/research techniques

• Habitat assessment
• Wildlife food habits
• Basic research techniques (census, marking, sex and age criteria, etc.)
• Agency and personnel responsibilities

V. Current issues in wildlife conservation

• Wildlife damage control
• Conservation ethics
• Anti-hunting/trapping sentiment
• Conservation of endangered species
• Habitat loss/degradation