Kentucky Wild will celebrate its birthday and native species Saturday in Georgetown, public invited

Saturday's Kentucky Wild event will include a presentation on Kentucky's freshwater mussels, like this one in the Licking River, its whitened end worn by erosion. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer).

Bats, butterflies and a native plant sale will be featured at a celebration of Kentucky Wild’s sixth birthday Saturday, Sept. 21, in Georgetown.

A news release from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources says the public is invited to the event which is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern) at Country Boy Brewing’s taproom at 101 Innovation Way in Georgetown.

The program will  feature:

• Demonstrations on how to support wildlife in your own yard, 10 a.m.
• “Bat Chat” program, 12 p.m.
• Monarch butterflies presentation, 1 p.m.
• Freshwater mussel filtration program, 2 p.m.
• Native plant sale, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (while supplies last)

Attendees ages 21 and older can try a special Kentucky Wild Honey Ale and receive a commemorative pint glass. Kentucky Wild staff will also sell new merchandise, including t-shirts, hats, beanies and stickers, and various Kentucky Wild partners and conservation organizations will have tables at the event.

Kentucky Wild is a membership-based program dedicated to conserving Kentucky’s native wildlife that are not hunted, fished or trapped. Membership fees support conservation efforts for vulnerable and declining species such as songbirds, raptors, freshwater mussels, pollinators, bats and amphibians. To learn more about Kentucky Wild, visit fw.ky.gov .