April

Wildlife Management

Early Childhood Activities related to Wildlife Management
Below are examples of activities that can be used while studying wildlife and wildlife management. While the idea of “wildlife management” may be beyond what most early childhood children can grasp, you can focus on what wildlife need to survive and how we can help ensure that they have it. This study would be a great time to invite a local naturalist or other natural resources professional into the classroom to talk about what they do for wildlife and/or to do a fun activity with the children.

Growing Up WILD

Terrific Turkeys – Children learn about wild turkeys.
What’s Wild? – Children compare the lives of wild and tame animals.
Wildlife is Everywhere! – Children make observations and understand that wildlife is everywhere.
Wildlife Water Safari – Children discover water sources for local wildlife.

Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood

Trees as Habitat – Children explore how wildlife depend on trees.

Book List

Arnosky, J. 1979. Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracks and Wildlife Signs. Penguin Group (USA).
Arnosky, J. 1997. Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing Animal Habitats. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Arnosky, J. 1995. I See Animals Hiding. Scholastic.
Auch, A.J. 2002. Tame and Wild. Spyglass Books.
Bishop, N. 2002. Backyard Detective: Critters Up Close. Scholastic, Inc.
Douglas, L. G. 2003. The Bald Eagle. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Giogas, V. 2007. In My Backyard. Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Green, J. 2002. In a Backyard. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Herkert, B. 2001. Birds in Your Backyard. Dawn Publications.
James, S. 1996. Wild Woods. Tandem Library Books. 
Kavanagh, J. and R. Leung. 2001. Urban Wildlife: An Introduction to Familiar Species (North American Nature Guides). Waterford Press.
Kirkland, J. 2006. Take a City Nature Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Kurtz, J., C. Kurtz and L. Christiansen. 2002. Water Hole Waiting. HarperCollins Publishers.
Landry, S.B. and R.T. Peterson. 1998. Peterson First Guide to Urban Wildlife. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Lawrence, G. and A.M. Tyrol. 2001. A Naturalist Indoors: Observing the World of Nature Inside Your Home. iUniverse, Inc.
Lock, D. 2007. Animals at Home. DK Publishing, Inc.
Montgomery, R.G. 2001. The Living Wilderness. Caxton Press.
Morrison, G. 2004. Nature in the Neighborhood. Walter Lorraine Books/Houghton Mifflin Books.
Ruurs, M. 2007. In My Backyard. Tundra.
Squire, A.O. 1996. 101 Questions and Answers about Backyard Wildlife. Walker & Company.
Wechsler, D. 2001. Peregrine Falcons. PowerKids Press.

Iowa Wildlife Cameras

Watch LIVE footage of several Iowa birds of prey as they raise their young this spring. There are also links to a birdfeeder cam at a county nature center, and a trout cam at an IDNR fish hatchery.

Dickinson County Conservation Board: Okoboji Osprey Camera

http://dickinsoncountyconservationboard.com/osprey-camera/

Decorah Eagles

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

IDNR Falcon Cams

http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/SocialMediaPressRoom/IowaDNRVideos/IowaDNRLiveFalconCam.aspx

Scott County Owl Camera
http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/webcams/webcam_120.php

Alcoa Eagle Cam

http://www.alcoa.com/locations/usa_davenport/en/info_page/eaglecam.asp

Scott County Bird Feeder Camera

http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/webcams/webcam_121.php

IDNR Trout Cam
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/iowadnr