Mountain Man - "Where can I find me some critters young lady?"
Young Lady - "Due West to the Sunset."

How many of us run on trails, bike, hike, fish, camp, and explore the great outdoors but never give a thought to the animals that inhabit the great landscapes? When is that last time you thought about natural reproducing trout, the rabbits and bobcats, owls and eagles that are probably watching you with interest from a distance as you tromp around and make a general racket and mess of things. What can we do to help out little woodland creatures frolicking in their Sherwood Forests?

1. Awareness
Probably one of the best ways we can help our furry and feathered friends is to be aware. Aware we are using and playing in their homes can help them survive and thrive. Most people would not argue with the thought that we hold in our hands the key to the animal kingdom's success or downfall.

Being aware of how find travel might change how you mess around in that nice clear and bubbling stream, that one you let your kids build a dam of rocks in for fun. You might think twice before hacking up that dead tree for firewood when you are camping.

Awareness of nature and the animals that inhabit it is going to change how we act in the great outdoors. Disposing trash in the proper way, not just mashing through the forest and clearing a spot for your campsite is going to make a difference.

2. Education
I know you don't want to go back to school or class, but education is the key. How can we protect and help something that we don't understand? How can we work to improve the lives of our furry friends when we don't know how the live, eat, play, or travel. The only way to do this is education.

When is the last time you took advantage of the small classes that local DNR, Conservation, or University free weekend and short classes. If you don't know what I'm talking about next time you are at the local State Park look on the nearest bulletin board and find out. Give the conservation officer in your county a call, I can guarantee there will be some classes for adults and kids, all for free.

Learning about the flora and fauna is a great way to help out. Learning about how trout naturally reproduce and survive, or how certain birds need certain trees not only makes you cool, you can drop that knowledge on someone else. Get a book, get online, get educated.

3. Getting Dirty
Get some dirt under your finger nails, sweat a little. Probably the greatest and most direct way to have a impact on the habitation of animals in their territory is to get involved physically. If you don't think there are any volunteering opportunities in your area you are not trying hard enough.

Pretty much every watershed in the country as a group devoted to the restoration and management of that area. The local conservation office always has projects going on that require the help of many volunteers to complete. It could be clearing invasive species, stabilizing river bank, planting grass, and the list goes on, there is something you can do with sweat on your brow to make a difference.

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