Wildlife
This project is for all youth whether you live in the city, the country, or in between. Activities involve birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, or amphibians and many environments. Wildlife is the plants and animals that live in and around your community. Some of the animals have learned to adapt or change because humans live so close to their homes, but others have moved or died because of humans. Without wildlife, we would not have a reason to go hiking. Without wildlife, this world would be pretty dull! We must all learn to take care of wildlife so it will be here for everyone to enjoy for a long, long time.
- Learn skills like fishing, hunting, or taxidermy.
- Learn about wildlife and the environment in relation to man.
- Identify, use, and wisely manage wildlife resources.
Ideas for Project Area Learning!
- Investigate the plants or animals that are native to your community. Do these animals and plants still live there? What may be some reasons that they are gone or are still there?
- Talk with an older member of the community to see what plants and animals were there when they were young.
- Learn about different tree species and critters on your vacation. Record location, name of species, and type of climate.
- Job shadow and interview a park ranger.
- Read about local bird species and become a bird watcher.
- Visit a wildlife shelter and learn about what they do.
Project Area Events
Iowa 4-H Contact
Maya Hayslett
Share What You Learn With Others!
Communication
- Do a presentation on different types wildlife in your area and how they have changed.
- Give a talk to a group about how to respect and care for wildlife in your area.
- Research and present on how people affect wildlife populations.
Civic Engagement
- Build bird houses and feeders for your local park to attract all kinds of wild birds.
- Clean up parks, streams, and lakes to keep wildlife habitats healthy.
- Volunteer at a wildlife shelter.
Leadership
- Lead a scavenger hunt at a local park to teach other 4-Hers about the wildlife and nature in your area.
- Hold a workshop to teach others environmentally friendly ways to make wildlife feeders.
- Teach others about safety around wild animals.
Exhibit Ideas
- Keep a journal of the birds and other wildlife you see in your backyard.
- Make a poster with wildlife local to your area.
- Build a feeder to attract local wildlife.
- Design a bird house for birds in your area.
- Are there species struggling for survival in your area? Come up with a plan and implement it to help wildlife.
- Identify different types of tracks animals leave behind.