​​​​
​ New York State Envirothon 
    ​                       ​Hands-on environmental education competition – testing knowledge                             and understanding of NYS natural resources – www.nysenvirothon.org​


2025 NYS Envirothon 
   ​will be 
Wednesday, May 28th - Thursday, May 29th, 2025

 at SUNY Cortland, Cortland, NY   
    ​
​​       ____      

      New York hosted the 2024 NCF Envirothon
  Sunday, July 28, 2024 - Saturday, August 3, 2024
  at Hobart & William Smith Colleges. Geneva, New York

​      For the results check out the           
Checkout our video page - 

           


Wildlife Study Guide

                                                                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             Along with aquatics, forestry and soils, wildlife is another of our valuable                                                                                                                                   natural resources. Wildlife are highly dependent upon the status of aquatic,                                                                                                                               forestry and soil ecology. Today, the greatest threat to wildlife is habitat loss.
                                                                                                                             The impact of human land use practices on wildlife populations and their                                                                                                                                   habitats is a major concern nation-wide.

                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                             At the regional Envirothon the wildlife station will emphasize animal wildlife                                                                                                                               in New York State. Students will be expected to have a basic understanding                                                                                                                               of regional species populations and their habitats, how they function and                                                                                                                                   change over time and their role in the ecosystem. They should be able to                                                                                                                                   identify common wildlife species and their corresponding characteristics                                                                                                                                   and habitats.

                                                                                                                             In addition, the wildlife learner should develop an awareness and                                                                                                                                             knowledge of the following: specific adaptations of wildlife to their                                                                                                                                           environment; wildlife survival needs; predator/prey relationships; food                                                                                                                                     chains and food webs; factors that limit or enhance population growth;                                                                                                                                     concepts of carrying capacity and limiting factors; non-native species; threatened and endangered species; and the roles of both the public and wildlife managers in the protection, conservation, management, and enhancement of wildlife populations.

“Without knowing it, we utilize hundreds of products each day that owe their origin to wild animals and plants. Indeed our welfare is intimately tied up with the welfare of wildlife. Well may conservationists proclaim that by saving the lives of wild species, we may be saving our own.”

     ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Wildlife Learning Objectives

For successful completion of the Wildlife section, students should be able to:

  • Identify mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects using mounted specimens, skins/pelts, pictures, skulls, silhouettes, decoys, wings, feathers, scats, tracks, animal sounds, or other common signs
  • Identify general food habits from teeth and/or skull morphology
  • Know the preferred habitat types and specific habitat requirements of the most common wildlife species and the factors that affect wildlife suitability
  • Know and understand basic ecological concepts and terminology including the difference between an ecosystem, community and population
  • Understand wildlife population dynamics and limiting and decimating factors of wildlife management
  • Be able to identify, describe and explain wildlife adaptations to their environment
  • Understand the different levels of biodiversity and the implications of loss at each level
  • Identify common wildlife management practices and methods that are being used to manage and improve wildlife habitat
  • Understand the role of federal and state Fish and Wildlife Agencies in the management, conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish and wildlife and their habitats.
  • Be familiar with finding information found within the NYS hunting safety guide and hunter education program
  • Understand the environmental impact of invasive species, threat to biodiversity, and impact on native wildlife
  • Understand common land use decisions that affect wildlife population growth, environmental degradation, and habitat reduction
  • Be familiar with common wildlife diseases from microbes, parasites, toxins, and other biological and physical agents
  • Understand the terminology and factors that affect threatened and endangered wildlife species. Know examples of NYS species that are extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened, and special concern
  • Understand the role of the Endangered Species Act in helping to conserve endangered and threatened species. Know the organizations and agencies responsible for listing and protecting endangered species on global, federal, and state levels

      We have attempted to find the most recent information from crediable, university or governmental based institutions related to the listed learning objective but please note that the following resources are not all inclusive or exclusive and there are many other sources of information that you may wish to consult in yur study of "Wildlife".

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Wildlife References

  2024-25 Big Game Hunting
   

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

:

     
     


Aquatic Ecology   -::-  Forestry  -::-   Soils & Land Use -::-    Wildlife  -::-  Current issue