What’s in Your Woods? Offered on October 9 at the Vinton Furnace State Forest

Sunplus

Mother bobcat and kitten. Photo Courtesy of Suzie Prange ODNR-Division of Wildlife

As the fall-colored leaves start their descent to the ground, wildlife enthusiasts will experience increased visibility and have some great opportunities to see wildlife in the forest. In the Friday, October 9 program “What’s in your Woods?” attendees will learn about trail cameras and other tools and techniques that can be used to observe woodland wildlife, as well as get information about monitoring efforts in southern Ohio. There will be time to explore the Vinton Furnace State Forest for signs of wildlife activity and check out some field sampling techniques. This program will take place at the Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur.

GOEA

Golden Eagle in Vinton County. Photo courtesy of Bill Borovicka, USDA Forest Service

Suzie Prange, furbearer biologist with the ODNR-Division of Wildlife; Craig Hicks, wildlife disease biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; and Bill Borovicka, supervisory forest technician, U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station will lead classroom and field sessions on the following topics:

-Selecting features for trail cameras

-Choosing locations for wildlife monitoring and how to  set up your site

-Hands-on experience looking for wildlife signs

-Using modern technology for nuisance wildlife

-Current research efforts for bobcats, gray fox, golden eagles, and more

“A Day in the Woods” and the “2nd Friday Series” are sponsored by the Education and Demonstration Subcommittee of the Vinton Furnace State Forest with support from Ohio State University Extension, ODNR-Divisions of Forestry and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, Vinton County Soil and Water Conservation District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hocking College, National Wild Turkey Federation, Glatfelter and Ohio’s SFI Implementation Committee.

The final “2nd Friday Series” program scheduled for 2015 is “Identifying Trees in Winter (November 13).

For brochures and more information, visit http://u.osu.edu/seohiowoods. A registration fee of $10 will include meal and program materials. To help prepare materials and plan for meals, please RSVP no later than the Monday preceding the event by returning a registration form, calling 740-596-5212 (OSU Extension Vinton County) or emailing Dave at apsley.1@osu.edu.