January 18, 2007



	“WILD AT NIGHT” IS THEME OF 2007 WILDLIFE DIVERSITY CONFERENCE



	Register before February 23 and receive a $10 discount



	        COLUMBUS, OH - The nocturnal habits of Ohio’s wild creatures is the focus of the 2007 Ohio Wildlife Diversity Conference, set for Wednesday, March 14 at the Aladdin Shrine Center in Columbus. The conference, “Wild at Night,” is open to the public and is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. 



	        “We are presenting new information on the nighttime activities of Ohio wildlife,” said Kendra Wecker, ODNR wildlife diversity coordinator. “How these animals live and behave after the sun goes down is a mystery to many people, providing a fascinating topic for exploration at this year’s conference.”  



	        Author and naturalist Kenn Kaufman will provide the keynote address, speaking on changes in the way people perceive and appreciate the natural world.



	Other conference topics include secretive Southern flying squirrels, how coyotes have adapted to city nightlife, echolocation of bats, and the mysteries of fireflies. Representatives from a range of conservation and natural resource organizations, including the Ohio Bluebird Society, several county metro park districts, and the Ohio Biological Survey, will be present at display tables and available to answer questions.



	        The Wildlife Diversity Conference has steadily grown in popularity over the last 21 years. The first conference, held in 1985, drew 40 people. Last year, 750 people attended the day-long gathering.



	        For more information or to register for the conference online, go to ohiodnr.com/wildlife/conferences or call 1-800-WILDLIFE. The registration fee prior to February 23 is $20. After that date the fee is $30.