KFLP is offering a Wildlife option in addition to the Forestry and Entomology options. This option is for the student that has a serious interest in learning more about Kentucky’s wildlife. Students enrolled in the Wildlife option will spend much of the week learning the basics of Kentucky wildlife. The students will also complete a survey of the wildlife in the same 80-acre forest plot that is being investigated by the Forestry and Entomology students. At key points during the week, the Forestry, Entomology and Wildlife students will share their findings and work together to solve real-life forest management problems while creating a forest management plan. The student’s will be busy from dawn ‘til dusk (and beyond) during the program. The Wildlife students will get to complete a Wildlife Habitat Assessment of the property as well as conduct surveys for:

• reptiles and amphibians
• signs of mammals such as tracks, scat and damage
• bird survey early morning
• bat survey after dusk by recording their calls using new wildlife acoustics technology
• GPS and GIS (computer mapping)

The Wildlife students will also get the opportunity to learn about careers in the wildlife field as well as college degree options such as the Wildlife Forester program, Forestry, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and Entomology at the University of Kentucky.

Students will work with wildlife, forestry and entomology specialists from the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service along with experts from the Kentucky Division of Forestry, Kentucky Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Kentucky Division of Conservation. This team of professionals will work with students throughout the week as they develop their ecological investigation and other projects.

For more information or questions about this option contact Laurie Thomas (laurie.thomas@uky.edu) or (859) 257-2703.