Purdue News
Purdue News
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August 11, 2004 Coverts project provides wildlife educationWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - For the fourth year in a row a covert program is coming to Indiana, however, it's not an undercover operation by law enforcement officers. Instead, the Indiana Coverts Project is for landowners and others interested in improving forest wildlife habitat. "A covert (pronounced kuh-vert) is a thicket that provides shelter for wildlife," said Brian MacGowan, a Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service wildlife specialist. "The Indiana Coverts Project helps people make informed decisions about managing wildlife on their land." A major focus of the program is a seminar slated for Sept. 30 to Oct. 3 at the Indiana FFA Leadership Center near Trafalgar, Ind. The seminar takes place in a camp environment and in surrounding forested land. Training includes sessions in ecology and forest and wildlife management. In addition to the training, each participant receives reference materials and becomes part of a network of woodland owners who communicate regularly and have access to forestry and wildlife professionals throughout the state. In exchange, participants are asked to spend at least one year actively promoting forest wildlife management in their community. "It's kind of a train-the-trainer approach because then participants can answer other woodland owners' questions or direct them to an appropriate resource professional," MacGowan said. A registration fee of $40 for the seminar supplements the cost of food, lodging and reference materials. There is no registration deadline, but space is limited. For more information on the Indiana Coverts Project or to register, visit the web site, or contact MacGowan at (765) 647-3538, macgowan@purdue.edu. Indiana Coverts is a joint effort among Purdue University, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Ruffed Grouse Society. Writer: Kay Hagen, (765) 494-6682, kjh@purdue.edu Source: Brian MacGowan, (765) 647-3538, macgowan@purdue.edu Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu Related Web site:
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