Date: 03/11/10
Contact: Margie Klein
Phone: (702) 486-5127 x 3502

NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK

With spring officially arriving soon, it’s time to get outdoors and celebrate National Wildlife Week, March 15 – 19, 2010. National Wildlife Week is a public awareness campaign sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Its purpose is to bring awareness of wildlife conservation to people of all ages across the country.

The event originated in 1938, and has involved such celebrities as Walt Disney, Shirley Temple, and Robert Redford. Communities all over come together to perform service projects or to embark on nature hikes. Some of the projects include habitat restoration, clean-ups, and animal counts. But you don’t have to participate in a formal event to celebrate National Wildlife Week. Families and friends are encouraged to celebrate just by enjoying their local wildlife and connecting with nature.

Parents can make time for outdoor play and nature study with their kids right in their own backyards. Research shows that time spent outside contributes to physical and mental well-being, for both kids and adults. One recent study shows that kids from ages 8 to 18 are spending an average of 7 ½ hours per day devoted to electronic media.

According to Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW)’s wildlife education coordinator, Margie Klein, “Getting outside can counter that trend and help kids to develop a real-time appreciation of the environment.

The National Wildlife Week website, at www.nwf.org, offers a number of resources on how to spend time outdoors. There are free activities and games, as well as lists of plants and animals in your local area, which you can check off while doing a “wildlife watch” in your yard or nearby park. The website also allows you to record the wildlife you have seen and share the stories of how you spent time outside. NDOW also has a plethora of information on local species and tips for viewing them at http://www.ndow.org.

By getting outside during National Wildlife Week, everyone can further NWF’s purpose of “uniting the efforts of all friends of outdoor America to the end that future generations shall have their rightful heritage of wildlife.”

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a Federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.