In a few short weeks, we look forward to coming together in the heart of Wisconsin, where local family farms, outdoor recreation and wildlife thrive, including the area’s elk herd, wolves, bears and an incredible diversity of bird and plant life!
We listened to your feedback from Wildlife Day 2018 and are pleased to announce that this year, we will be hosting our main annual event in the Black River State Forest area featuring more networking and Q&A opportunities with other wildlife advocates, scientists, farmers, community leaders, wildlife organizations, and plenty of FAMILY FUN in the beautiful outdoors.
WHEN: August 17th from 12:00 – 4:00 pm + optional evening activities
WHERE: Cain’s Orchard | W13885 Cain Road Hixton, WI 54635
Communities close to the farm include Eau Claire, Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, Sparta, Tomah, Altoona, Black River Falls, Neillsville, Nekoosa and surrounding Jackson County. About 2 hours from Madison.
COST: FREE EVENT !
Wildlife Day at the Farm is proudly sponsored by our Wildlife Champion: The Ho-Chunk Nation
We are also excited to announce that this year there will be an avian ambassador presentation! River Valley Raptors is a local non-profit organization devoted to conservation in the driftless area. They inspire conservation with the help of their avian ambassador team which consists of non-releasable birds of prey.
FREE Food:
At this year’s event, we will be offering a wide variety of local, sustainable and vegan options so there will be something for EVERYONE, including food options from Field Roast, Beyond Burger, Tofurky, BearNibbles, Tofutti, caramel drizzled apples, freshly picked blueberries and more!
Activities for All Ages:
Tractor rides, hiking, berry picking, bird watching, farm-to-table shopping, activities for the kiddos, bonfire and camping ! For those staying in the area after the main event, there will be a guided hike with wildlife experts followed by a wolf howling survey in the Black River State Forest. Join us after hours for more chances to see other wildlife in their natural habitat.
Speakers/Panelists:
Scientists
- Dr. Adrian Treves | University of Wisconsin-Madison, Nelson Institute. Dr. Treves earned his PhD at Harvard University in 1997 and is now a Professor of Environmental Studies at UW–Madison and founder of the Carnivore Coexistence Lab.
- Jeremy St. Arnold | Wildlife and Forestry Biologist for the Red Cliff Tribe, featured on the PBS documentary MA’iingan. Jeremy played a key role in creating the Red Cliff Wolf Protection Plan and works with area farmers to reduce conflict.
- Heather Orlovsky | Conservation Biologist, UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources and chair of the Wildlife Societies Native Peoples’ Wildlife Management Working Group which promotes improved relationships between state/provincial/federal wildlife managers and tribal wildlife managers through improved communications. She also advocates for diversity within wildlife agencies.
- Francisco Santiago-Avila | Fran holds Masters degrees in environmental public policy as well as environmental management from Duke University. His main objective is to reform wildlife management by embedding in it the much needed acknowledgement of moral standing for individual nonhuman animals. Fran’s other research interests include: human behavior and attitudes towards animals, conflict-mitigating interventions and legal mechanisms for conservation. His other interests include carnivore behavioral ecology and trophic cascades.
Farmers
- Diane Cain and family, Cain’s Orchard http://www.explorewisconsin.com/spotlight/CainsOrchard
- Mary Falk, Lovetree Farm, award-winning cheesemaker and wildlife/predator conflict expert https://lovetreefarmstead.com/home.htm
- Justin and Darci Daniels, Conservation and Farming Program https://www.gardenvalleyfarmstead.com/our-farm
We are thrilled to host this year’s event in a location where family farmers not only embrace the presence of wildlife on their farm, but want nothing more than to see it thriving there:
“Growing up on a farm meant I adored the cows, calves and chickens I helped care for. I loved watching the deer, fox and all wildlife. My grandfather would pass the Eau Claire Leader to us – there was a column that gave facts about wildlife that helped me to understand and appreciate them. I wanted to become a journalist so I could educate people about animals in much the same way however, I became a nurse instead.
My interest in wolves peaked in 2010 when the Bear Bluff Pack of adults and their pups who lived in the Jackson/Monroe County area were trapped and killed. I was horrified then, but the more I learn now, the more I am incredulous regarding the lack of respect, empathy and education surrounding this iconic animal.
We bought our farm in 1976 to plant an orchard, which we did. A huge selling point to me was the 100 acres of forest on our farm. Even back then, I recognized there was a critical need for a safe haven for wildlife. Now with our state parks and trails opened up for hunting and trapping over several months of the year, the need for wildlife sanctuaries is even greater than it was back then.” – Diane Cain, Cain’s Orchard
So please mark your calendars, and join us for a day of fun, education and advocacy ! If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact us at info@wiwolvesandwildlife.org.
Howls of thanks to our other Wildlife Day sponsors!
Friends of the Wisconsin Wolf & Wildlife 