2.0 Wildlife Identification

2-1. Study Materials: Official Species List and Species Descriptions

Urban Species 

American robin, common nighthawk, eastern bluebird, European starling, hairy woodpecker, house finch, house sparrow, house wren, northern flicker, peregrine falcon, rock pigeon, ruby-throated hummingbird, song sparrow, big brown bat, coyote, eastern cottontail, eastern fox squirrel, eastern gray squirrel, opossum, raccoon, red fox, white-tailed deer

Eastern Deciduous Forest Species 

American woodcock, brown thrasher, eastern meadowlark, golden-winged warbler, great horned owl, mourning dove, northern bobwhite, ovenbird, wild turkey, wood duck, black bear, bobcat, eastern cottontail, eastern gray squirrel, elk, gray fox, Indiana bat, white-tailed deer, eastern box turtle, timber rattlesnake, bluegill, largemouth bass

Wetland Species

American bittern, Canada goose, mallard, northern pintail, redhead, spotted sandpiper, Virginia rail, Wilson’s snipe, American beaver, common muskrat, mink, raccoon, river otter, American bullfrog, crawfish frog, eastern snapping turtle, tiger salamander, bluegill, largemouth bass

2-2. Contestant's Scorecard 

2024 Urban, Eastern Deciduous Forest, and Wetland Species Junior Scorecard (PDF) 

2024 Urban, Eastern Deciduous Forest, and Wetland Species Senior Scorecard (PDF)

2-3. Event Description

Objectives

Contestants will be able to identify wildlife species present in Arkansas based on visual, auditory and behavioral cues, and descriptions. The ability to identify these wildlife species and understanding their life histories will provide a basis for other contest events. 

Overview 

Each team member will answer questions about identifying wildlife found in the announced contest ecoregions. Two ecoregions will be wildlife species from the Urban and Wetlands ecoregions. The other ecoregion will be announced prior to the contest. When one of the ecoregions is Wetlands or Urban, another ecoregion will be named. All wildlife to be identified in this activity will be taken from the official species list.

This activity will focus on the contestant’s ability to identify wildlife species. This includes identification from pictures, artifacts, replicas, vocalizations, or other representations as found in a natural outdoor condition. Wildlife identification can also include questions about life history and behavior that lead to identification. This information can be found in wildlife guides and references from libraries, bookstores and the Internet.  

Wildlife species listed under the Urban and Wetlands ecoregions and from one other announced region will be eligible for this event. Minimally, contestants should be able to:

• Identify mammals by fur, skulls, vocalizations, tracks or other sign, such as a beaver’s chewed log or a buck’s rubbed tree.
• Identify birds by plumage, nests, eggs, tracks and birdsongs.
• Identify fish, reptiles, and amphibians by their shape, color, or other unique characteristics.
• Identify the male, female, juvenile and adult of a species.  
• Know the unique life histories and behaviors of these wildlife species.  

These items will be displayed on tables with corresponding numbers.  Contestants are not allowed to touch items on the table unless directed to do so, such as for pressing a button on a device to hear a vocalization for identification. 

Contest Rules 

1. Each contestant needs to bring pencils and a clean clipboard.  The clipboard may be labeled for identification purposes, but no other writing or other marks are allowed on the clipboard. 
2. Junior and Senior contestants will complete the scorecard individually. This is not a team event, and thus, no talking or cheating is allowed.  
3. Contestants are required to identify wildlife species from the official species list from the announced ecoregion, Urban, and Wetland ecoregions.  
4. A scorecard with a list of wildlife species and a corresponding letter will be provided. The correct legible corresponding letter of the species must be placed on the scorecard to receive credit.
5. The same species may be selected more than once for identification. For example, both an antler and track of a white-tailed deer may appear on the contest. 
6. Junior and Senior contestants will have 30 minutes to identify about 30 items and record information on the scorecard.

Additional Information

Coaches and Cloverbuds Wildlife ID (WHEP State Contest) - This optional non-competitive learning activity is for coaches and cloverbuds who have siblings competing at the contest.  Cloverbuds are recognized at the awards ceremony and can complete the scorecard individually, or with assistance from an adult or teen leader.  Talking is allowed.