Georgia DNR Launches Annual Poster Contest

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Teachers and students across Georgia are invited to honor Georgia’s wildlife and students’ artistic interests by participating in the 25th annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest.

The goal of the competition is to generate a greater knowledge and appreciation of Georgia’s diverse and increasingly threatened nongame wildlife and their habitats.

Nongame species (those not legally hunted or fished for) vary from rare animals and plants such as the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and the hooded pitcherplant to common species such as the northern cardinal and flowering dogwood.

This popular art contest is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The

Environmental Resources Network (TERN), friends group of DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section.

To celebrate the silver anniversary, this year’s theme is “Georgia’s WILD Animals & Plants – A Natural Investment.”

The topic highlights the value of these natural resources as well as the currency required to keep wildlife populations thriving.

The top 12 state-level winners’ artwork will be showcased on the DNR Wildlife Resources Division Flickr) and Instagram websites, as well as displayed at the State Botanical Garden in Athens from May 5 – May 12.

Teachers can get more info on how to participate in the contest by going online to www.georgiawildlife.com/Conservation/Support, or by calling the Nongame Conservation Section offices in Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218).