Wyatt Orth among winners in DNR’s wildlife poster contest

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is pleased to announce the winners of the third annual Keep Wildlife Wild poster contest. Submitted by fourth through sixth graders around the state, each poster helps spread the word about our shared role in keeping all wildlife healthy, and most importantly, wild.

Among those winners is sixth grader Wyatt Orth of Medford, who took second place in his grade level for his poster which depicts two white-tailed fawns, one resting and one feeding, near a hiking trail. Orth is a student in the Gilman School District.

During the warmer months of spring and summer, the frequency of human-wildlife encounters increases, especially those involving young wild animals. While most of these encounters are harmless, there are times when well-intentioned people interfere in wildlife situations because they incorrectly assume a young animal is orphaned.

The Keep Wildlife Wild initiative began in 2014 to provide information about wildlife species’ natural behaviors, tips on how to determine if a wild animal is truly orphaned and what to do if someone finds an animal that needs help. The poster contest is a fun way for kids to spread that message.

“We received about 130 poster designs from fourth, fifth and sixth graders across Wisconsin,” said Amanda Kamps, DNR wildlife health conservation specialist. “It was a fun and challenging task to narrow down the winners for each grade. The level of artistic ability and creativity of the students is incredible, and we look forward to highlighting these talented young artists.”

To view all the winning posters, visit https://dnr. wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/posterdesigncontest. html.

The DNR congratulates all winners and thanks every student who submitted a poster entry and helped spread the word that a wild animal’s best chance of survival is with its mother.

For more information on what to do if you come across a newborn animal or an animal of any age that may be sick or injured, visit https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/ topic/WildlifeHabitat/orphan.

Sixth grade winners

1st: Miriam Borgwardt from Fond du Lac 2nd: Wyatt Orth from Medford

3rd: Kate Mischick from McFarland

Fifth grade winners

1st: Mathew Bernier from Beloit 2nd: Thea Kammerud from Darlington 3rd: Blythe Griggs from Campbellsport Fourth grade winners

1st: Archer Peterson from Brillion 2nd: Nayeli Ostrander from Lodi 3rd: Hutson Conley from Plover