WHEP Practice Resources

These practice resources are intended to supplement the WHEP handbook and Wildlife O-Rama study guides. Additional images and resources can be found by searching the internet for examples. Be sure to use reputable sources such as the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Audubon Society, Smithsonium, universities, Bat Conservation International, North American Bluebird Society, etc. 

1. Wildlife Identification

BIrds

Cornell Lab of Ornithology video series

• Inside Birding: Size and Shape (video link)
• Inside Birding: Color Pattern (video link)
• Inside Birding: Understanding Behavior (video link)
• Inside Birding: Habitat (video link)

Waterfowl: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Winging it: Learning Ducks From Their WIngs (webpage with videos)

All About Birds website

Urban species (links to each bird):

• American robin
• common nighthawk
• eastern bluebird
• European starling
• house finch
• house sparrow
• house wren
• northern flicker
• peregrine falcon
• rock pigeon
• ruby-throated hummingbird
• song sparrow

Wetland species (links to each bird):

• American bittern
• Canada goose
• mallard
• northern pintail
• redhead
• spotted sandpiper
• Virginia rail
• Wilson’s snipe

Mississippi Alluvial Plain species:

Find these at the All About Birds website.

Mammals

Skulls, pelts & eggs PDF

Scat & tracks PDF

Urban

big brown bat

coyote

eastern gray squirrel

raccoon

white-tailed deer

Wetlands

American beaver

common muskrat

mink

raccoon

river otter

Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish

Wetlands

Herps and Fishes video by Lori Monday, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (2021)

Herps of Arkansas website:

American bullfrog

crawfish frog

eastern snapping turtle

tiger salamander

bluegill

largemouth bass

2. Wildlife Foods and Concepts

Ecological Principles Activities, Senior level, Environmental Education for teachers in Wisconsin

3. Interpreting Satellite Imagery

How to Interpret a Satellite Image, NASA website

4. Wildlife Habitat Management Practices

Native Plants and Pollinators video by Virginia McDaniel, U.S. Forest Service (2021)

Wildlife Habitat Management for Arkansas Landowners (PDF) by University of Arkansas Extension

5. Writing a Wildlife Management Plan

Wildlife Management Plan Help Sheet

Scenarios for past Wildlife Management Plans in Arkansas. Change the species and use these to practice for the contest. 

Scenario #1

Scenario #2

Scenario #3

Scenario #4

Additional Resources

Wildlife Identification Kits

Educational wildlife kits are available on loan to County 4-H agents. Soon kits with furs and skulls will be available at the statewide 4-H resource hubs. Until these become available, these kits and plus other resources are available through the state office. Other kits include (1) plastic tracks, scat, & egg replicas, (2) plastic molds to make plaster casts of tracks, and (3) a set of 10 binoculars for birdwatching. Kits are picked up from Forest Resources in the Extension state office (Little Rock). From January - April, the wildlife kits with WHEP study materials need to be returned within two weeks when in high demand. County agents are responsible for reserving and returning neatly-organized kits.

To reserve kits, email Becky McPeake, RMcPeake@uada.edu.

For Sale Publications

Wildlife Science Curriculum & WHEP resources (Purdue Extension's The Education Store)