Wildlife habitat bus tour scheduled for Friday, Dec. 11

A wildlife habitat bus tour is planned Friday, Dec. 11, in the area.

The tour is being sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and the Union County Soil and Water Conservation District.

A bus is scheduled to leave the USDA building parking lot at 201 Springfield Ave. in Anna at 1:15 p.m.

The tour bus is scheduled to return to the USDA building parking lot by 6 p.m.

Participants will be able to see how federal, state and private lands are managed for sustainable wildlife habitat.

An afternoon  bus tour of the Mississippi River bottomlands will be followed by a meal at Dino’s Too in Anna.

The tour and meal are free on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Reservations are needed and can be made by calling the Union County Soil and Water Conservation District office at 833-5666, extension 111.

The tour will focus on the Wetland Reserve Program land which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Information will be available on how adjacent landowners can benefit from the program and how new land can be signed up for the program.

A stop is planned at the Union County Wildlife Refuge near Ware to get a behind-the-scenes look at wildlife habitat management.

Stops also are planned at a rice field which is flooded for hunting and a hunting club to learn about hunting in the Mississippi River bottomlands.