Florida Master Naturalist Program: Wildlife Monitoring Special Topic

Counting wildlife is harder than it sounds, and this Special Topics course from the Florida Master Naturalist Program teaches why and how scientists do it. UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County hosts the module at its Twin Lakes Park office. It covers the reasons for monitoring animal populations and the methods used to do it, from marking and recapturing to surveying, along with the techniques most often applied to mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The format combines classroom sessions with field work, for about 24 contact hours in all. No prior survey experience is expected, and the course counts toward advanced Master Naturalist standing.