Ready to take your wildlife tracking skills to the next level? This class is for you! During this interactive lecture, we will study wildlife tracking beyond basics and foundations. Participants in this workshop will study track patterns and foot morphology, animal gaits and locomotion, common behaviors, and more!

Course Objectives

• Study wildlife track patterns and foot morphology, with an emphasis on mammal families

• Learn about animal locomotion and foundational gait patterns and how that helps us interpret tracking stories and support identification in the field

• Discuss and interpret wildlife behaviors and common ways they are seen as signs in the wild

• Review examples of challenging tracking questions, including skulls, feathers, nests, and small tracks

Who is this class designed for?

• Naturalists who have a foundation and want to develop strategies for interpreting more complex wildlife spoor to grow their knowledge base

• Outdoor enthusiasts who want exposure to novel track and sign examples that they have not yet discovered in the field on their own

• Folks who are interested in preparing for a track and sign certification

• Wildlife trackers who are looking to expand their ability to interpret more challenging tracks

• Community members looking to connect with other wildlife trackers in the area

Is previous tracking experience required for this course?

No, but it will likely be helpful to have taken previous tracking courses or have some familiarity with the subject so that your experience will match the slightly faster pace and terminology utilized in this class. Please reach out if you have any questions/concerns determining if this workshop feels like a good fit!

Accessibility

• This class will be held indoors and participants will remain seated or participate in small group activities for the duration of the session

• Restrooms, handicap accessibility, and other amenities are available at this facility

Sliding scale registration available

• Sliding scale registration costs are available for this course to reduce the barrier to entry for participation, Please reach out to ryan@firecraftnw.com if you have any questions!