Wildlife & Invasive Species Education (WISE) 2026

Registration for one or both days include lunch , snacks, water, coffee, and CAKE!

**On-Site Registration - $45.00 per day

No Refunds after March 18, 2026

🎁 Daily Bluebird Nest Box Raffle
Ten (10) bluebird nest boxes will be raffled at the end of each conference day.
Must be present to win.

Agenda

Day 1: March 26, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

8:15 a.m. Registration/Attendance/Get Raffle Ticket

8:45 a.m. Welcome – Jim E. Davis (Director, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County)

9:00 a.m. “Homewreckers! Invasive, Cryptobiotic Termites, What to Look for and How to Treat Them” - Dr. Faith Oi, Extension Associate Professor Urban Entomology, Director of Pest Management University, The University of Florida

10:00 a.m. Break (Visit Booths and IFAS Bookstore)

10:30 a.m. “A Snook on the Move” - Dr. Brittany Sharf, County Extension Director, Sea Grant Agent III, UF/IFAS Extension Hernando County

11:15 a.m. “Prescribed Wildfire in Florida” – Arthur Clothier, Sumter County Forester

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. “The Story of Florida’s Wetlands’ – Calvin Gardner, Urban Residential Horticulture Extension Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Orange County

2:00 p.m. “The Florida Black Bear- Black Bear Behavior and Biology as Well as Population” - Parks Paige, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

3:00 p.m. Break (Visit Booths and IFAS Bookstore)

3 :15 p.m. Coyotes: Current knowledge and an update on research in Florida – Dr. Hance Ellington, Assistant Professor, Grazinglands Wildlife Specialist, Range Cattle Research & Education Center, University of Florida

4:00 p.m. . “The Florida Master Naturalist Program: Florida’s Hardwood Forest Environments” – Dr. Marty Main, Professor, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Program Leader for the Florida Master Naturalist Program, University of Florida

5:00 p.m. Survey/🎁 Bluebird Nest Box Raffle

Day 2: March 27, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

8:45 a.m. Registration/Attendance/Get Raffle Ticket

9:00 a.m. . “Basic Wildlife Photography Tips for Anyone” – Jim Davis, Natural Resources and Urban Pest Management Agent III, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County

9:45 a.m. “The American Alligator” – Jim Davis, Natural Resources and Urban Pest Management Agent III, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County

10:30 a.m. Break (Visit Booths and IFAS Bookstore)

11:00 a.m. "Native Plants" - Amanda Marek, Florida-Friendly Landscaping agent II, UF/IFAS Extension Marion County

12:00 p.m. Lunch - (Lunch ticket available through Eventbrite registration)

1:00 p.m. “Getting to know the Marine Mammals of Florida” – Maxine Hunter, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent II, UF/IFAS Extension Marion County

2:00 p.m. “Invasive Plants” – Dr. Stephen Enloe, Professor, W**d Science & Invasive Plants, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, The University of Florida

3 :00 p.m. Break (Visit Booths and IFAS Bookstore)

3:15 p.m. “Florida's Owls” – Jim Davis, Natural Resources and Urban Pest Management Agent III, UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County

4:00 p.m. Survey/🎁 Bluebird Nest Box Raffle

4:15 p.m. Adjourn

Displays/Educational Booths

UF/IFAS Florida Master Gardener Program

Florida Forestry Service

UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County

UF/IFAS Florida Sea GrantProgram

UF/IFAS Master Naturali

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Host or Publisher UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County