The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
The ULM team will lead hikes through the rolling Ouachita Hills near Columbia, guided by experts in a variety of taxonomic groups. The day will also include live animal exhibits and resources to aid in the identification and appreciation of Louisiana’s flora and fauna.
The property consists of diverse geological and ecological features rarely seen in Louisiana, including rugged terrain, many plants rare to the state, and native petrified wood.
Graduate and undergraduate students organized the first annual event in 2013 in an effort to raise awareness about the university owned property as a place for education and appreciation of nature.
According to Matthew Herron, a biology graduate student from Denham Springs, the 2013 cohort documented 16 reptiles and amphibians on the property, and identified a total of 229 species. The department hopes to tally many more this year.
Water will be provided but guests are encouraged to bring extra fluids and to pack a lunch. Guests are also asked to prepare for hilly terrain and heat by wearing appropriate clothing and footwear.
For more information, contact herronm@warhawks.ulm.edu
To register, visit http://ulm.edu/~joydeep/canp.html
Specific directions and maps will be sent upon registration.