YV4C Owl Necropsy and Night Creature Hike

Get your gloves on and step into the role of a hands-on wildlife forensic scientist.

Instead of just watching from the sidelines, you will actively participate in a real postmortem examination (necropsy) led by Dr. Emily Fountain from the UW-Madison Peery Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Lab. Dr. Fountain is providing owl specimens for the group, giving you a rare, hands-on opportunity to look inside the world of veterinary biology and field pathology before we head out into the dark. 

After cleaning up, we will trek through active habitats to map nocturnal wildlife, using your newly gained knowledge to understand how these creatures hunt and survive in the dark. 

What to Expect:

• Hands-on anatomy lab
• Wildlife forensic science
• The night creature hike
• Network with experts over cocoa and a bonfire

Location: 

• The Heritage Center (3101 Lake Farm Rd, Madison, WI 53711)

How to Prepare: 

Step One: Create an Account in MyImpact (one time process)

• Account application and waiver for 18+ click here.
• Account application and waiver for those under 18 click here (requires parent signature)

Step 2: Must complete all waivers before signing up!
These are all locate at the bottom of the page under “my profile” – find each section below and complete

• DCP/LFHC Transportation Permission - must click “I agree to the above statement”
• DCP/LFHC Background Check (must be renewed yearly) - must click “I agree to the above statement”
• YV4C Behavior Agreement – sign and submit the agreement

Step 3: Sign up for events! 
After you've created an account and filled out all necessary waivers, you can sign up for a shift here

What to Know:

• In case of cancellation, a notification will be made via email and/or phone to participants who have signed up.
• No experience is needed. All tools and training provided.

What to Wear & Bring:

• Please dress for the weather and working indoors. There will be an indoor and outdoor component to this workday
• Please bring a water bottle. Snacks and cocoa will be provided. 

Questions?

• Grace Coleman, Youth Conservation Coordinator: Dane County Parks
  • (608) 228-2590 parksvolunteer@danecounty.gov