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Learning to map Virginia wildlife
DOUTHAT STATE PARK - A small group of Virginia Master Naturalist candidates gathered recently at Douthat State Park to learn the art of Wildlife Mapping.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries developed the program to help put citizen observations into its database and keep up with Virginia's wildlife populations.
Using simple tools and skills, anyone can participate in the program and help offset the expensive, long-term monitoring required by the agency.
After attending a VDGIF sponsored class, it is possible to become an official observer. Anyone who lives in the area knows wildlife is all around every day - but what is the long term picture for wildlife?
This most recent class at Douthat State Park was composed graduates of the newly formed Allegheny Highlands Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists.
On Nov. 3, members of the Highlands Chapter of the Archaeological Society of Virginia assisted Dr. Clarence Geier and a group of James Madison University students with an archaeological survey of a property in McDowell owned by the Shenandoah Battlefield Foundation. Pictured are chapter members Judy Marks, Polly Newlon, and Keith Carson. (Photo courtesy Mike Wilke) Once the initial classroom and field work is completed, advanced training, such as this class, keep VMN participants constantly expanding their knowledge of the natural world. They then use their training to help educate the community through various projects of the sponsoring agencies.
The second series of classes is currently being planned and will begin in February 2008. Those interested in becoming a Virginia Master Naturalist should visit www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/ or call Christine Hodges at (540) 839-7261.
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