Kids can keep wildlife wild

Calling all Wisconsin fourth, fifth and sixth graders. It’s time to get out paint and colored pencils, for the third annual poster contest, to help the Wisconsin DNR spread the word to Keep Wildlife Wild.

The goal of the contest is to create a poster that teaches the importance of enjoying and observing wildlife in the wild, and not keeping wildlife in homes or as pets.

“The young artists never disappoint,” said Amanda Kamps, DNR wildlife health conservation specialist and head of the Keep Wildlife Wild initiative. “The artwork and creativity we saw in the first two years of the poster contest, impressed all the judges. It’s inspiring to know these future leaders understand the importance of keeping our wildlife wild.”

Each entry must be prepared according to the poster contest’s rules, including the following:

• The poster entry must contain the words: “Keep Wildlife Wild 2021” and follow the theme of the Keep Wildlife Wild tagline, “A young wild animal’s best chance for survival is with its mother!”

• All posters must consist of original artwork of Wisconsin native wildlife.

• Posters must fit an 8.5x11 sheet of paper.

• Posters must be submitted individually; no team creations.

• New this year, all posters must be submitted electronically.

To be considered, submissions must be received by Feb. 12, 2021. First, second and third-place finalists will be selected for each grade level. Finalists will be announced during the fourth annual Keep Wildlife Wild week in April 2021.