This unit is about wildlife ecology, and the ways people use information gathered by wildlife ecologists. Students will learn why wildlife ecology is important and how data gathered by ecologists is used to understand and make decisions about the environment. They will develop research skills in a reallife context by going “out into the field” and making first-hand observations of wildlife habitat. They will use the information they have gathered in problem-solving activities. At the beginning of the unit, students will be introduced to the forest community of the field trip location and will develop the background knowledge and skills necessary to carry out a field study at the site.