UTAg hosting Woods and Wildlife Field Day, October 14

Students in the UT Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries often perform class projects onsite at the University of Tennessee Arboretum in Oak Ridge. Some (like the one in the photo) go on to have internships at the facility. Photo courtesy UTIA.

OAK RIDGE, TN – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will host a Woods and Wildlife Field Day on Friday, October 14, 2016. The annual event will be held at the UT Arboretum, but there is a twist this year. This year’s event is devoted to discussions of urban woods and wildlife species that thrive on the rural-urban interface.

This educational event should be of interest to homeowners and those interested in urban forestry.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m., but early birds may choose to enjoy a networking breakfast that starts at 7 a.m. The day’s events will commence by 8:15 and run until approximately 2:30 p.m. The $10 per person registration fee will help cover the cost of the event, and participants will enjoy a BBQ lunch as part of the activities.

The event will feature expert presentations focused on birds and beetles as well as dogwood trees and deer management. Sam Adams, an arborist with UT, will speak during the luncheon. His topic will be Residential Arboriculture – A Toolbox for Homeowners.

Following lunch students in the UT Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries will give demonstrations of forestry and arboriculture management skills.

Kevin Hoyt, director of the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center, says this year’s event will also feature a presentation by Sharon Jean-Phillippe, UT associate professor of forestry, who will discuss career pathways for those interested in studying arboriculture and urban forestry. “We look forward to hosting a variety of visitors who want to learn about urban forestry practices and wildlife management,” Hoyt said.

Pre-registration for the event is encouraged for planning purposes. To pre-register call 865-483-3571, or send an email to utforest@utk.edu. The early bird registration cutoff is Wednesday, October 5, to aid in plans for the luncheon. To request an accommodation for accessibility, call 865-483-3571. For additional details about the program, visit the center’s website: forestry.tennessee.edu.

The UT Arboretum is a unit of the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center and can be found at 901 Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Through its mission of research, teaching and service, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. ag.tennessee.edu

Published September 2, 2016