Alabama, represented by the Coosa County team, was one of 26 states competing at this year’s event.

Coosa County team member John Mullins garnered the highest overall individual score at this year’s competition – "a pretty remarkable accomplishment considering that all of our team members were rookies competing for the first time," says Roger Vines, Coosa County Extension agent. He, along with Joel Glover, a wildlife biologist, coached this year’s team.

Team member Jessica McGalliard earned the third highest overall score.

The team also included Loren Evans and Clay Wilder.

Each year, the national contest is held in a different state, and participants must study a national manual to learn about wildlife and habitat found in that state, Vines says. This year’s contest, held in Wooseter, Ohio, July 24 to 28, focused on wetland habitat, waterfowl, and other animals associated with aquatic environments.

Team members also had to learn about wildlife foods, aerial photo interpretation and wildlife management practices. They also had to write a wildlife management plan for both a rural and an urban site.

Much of the team’s success rests on the scores of individual team members, which comprise part of the team’s cumulative score.

Mullins won second highest score in aerial photos, while McGilliard earned the top score in the wildlife management practices segment of the competition. Evans also was a top scorer, winning ninth in wildlife management practices.

"We’re also very proud of Clay, because even though he didn’t place in the top ten of any of these events, he did very well for someone who had just returned from a kayaking competition in Wales before the contest," Vines says.

Indeed, says Vines, the team’s performance at this year’s competition was "very surprising," especially considering it marked the team members’ first exposure national competition.

"Placing third against some very strong teams from throughout the country required lots of hours of study and preparation," he says. "But the team rose to the challenge and surprised a lot of folks, including their coaches, Joel and me."

Without the support of several key sponsors, Coosa County’s presence at this year’s competition would not have been possible, Vines says.

State sponsors included the Alabama Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Alabama Foresters Owners Association, Alabama Forestry Foundation, and Alabama Wildlife Federation.

Local sponsors included Five Star Plantation of Kellyton, Coosa Action Network, ALFA and Chuck Weldon.

National sponsors included the National Fish and Wildlife Service, Sustainable Forestry and Wildlife, National Rifle Association and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The point spread at this year’s competition was very close, with only an eight-point difference between Coosa County, representing Alabama, and the national champions, Virginia.

Tennessee placed second.

This year marks the seventh time the Coosa County team has competed in the National Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Invitational.

(Source: Roger Vines, Coosa County Extension Agent, 256-377-4713.)

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