Course Summary

(As of October 31, 2003)

What We Do

The fragmentation and destruction of habitat is a primary cause of decline in wildlife populations. When development or irresponsible resource extraction occurs, critical habitat is often unwittingly harmed, simply because no one realizes that the area affected is an important denning, feeding, wintering or travel area for one or more species. Insular populations in fragmented habitats severely compromise the long-term well-being of many species. By monitoring potential habitats and threatened regions — systematically searching for and recording evidence of use by focal species over the long term — citizens can obtain the information needed to make informed decisions about wildlife habitat stewardship. Our training program is designed to turn volunteers into practitioners of a scientific methodology that will stand up under the scrutiny of town and regional boards, courts, developers and scientists.

Keeping Track concentrates on certain focal mammal species, specifically area-sensitive carnivores, threatened and endangered carnivores, keystone species, and species with rapidly shifting populations. In northern New England, for example, focal species include black bear, bobcat, moose, fisher, river otter, and mink. Threatened and Endangered species include American marten, Canada lynx, mountain lion, and wolf.

The documented presence of certain species serves as a good indicator of the wholeness and relative health of their habitats. Depending on the geographic region studied, chosen focal species may be appreciated as 'umbrella' species. Their niche requirements overlap with numerous other taxonomic and ecological functions; protecting adequate habitat for umbrella species on a landscape scale means that many other elements of biodiversity may be protected as well.

The Keeping Track training consists of a multi-day field course with additional classroom time. With the exception of November and the summer months, the course occurs over a six to nine month period, which averages one class per month. During training, team members are taught to recognize the tracks, sign and habitat of selected focal species. Trackers learn to develop a “search image” for likely habitat features and conditions in which to locate tracks and sign. The goal is to maximize the likelihood of finding evidence of the wildlife that is there. Team members also participate in in-depth discussions of the habitat selection patterns, ecology and life cycles of those species, and are challenged to perfect their ability to detect and interpret tracks and sign in the wild.

Following the training you will be required to join two or three other trained class members to form and thereafter function as a team. You will set up study areas (transects) and run your own monitoring program, and keep accurate written and photographic records. This is formal education, albeit in an informal setting. We highly recommend that you bring field notebooks and plan on a lot of listening, looking, and practice. The KTMP training is NOT a course in tracking per se. The following subjects are not covered in the course: interpreting the subtleties of track impressions themselves; aging tracks; the identification of all native bird and mammal tracks and sign; tracking animals with the purpose of stalking them or seeing them.

Course Specifics

Keeping Track provides each participant with training materials and an extensive list of supplemental readings. Volunteers learn about:

• detection and interpretation of tracks and sign of agreed upon focal species for your region
• tracks and sign of additional species that may be confused with those of the focal species
• conservation biology as it relates to data collection and resulting land protection
• forest ecology and plant identification as they relate to mammal uses of habitat.
• 'Search imaging'—Sue Morse's technique for looking in the right places and finding sign in predictable locations according to the specific habits of each species.
• an introduction to science-based field studies, including the Keeping Track Project and Data Management Protocol and data collection forms and procedures.

Field Workshops

At 'Wolfrun', where Keeping Track has its field training facility (in Jericho, VT):

Cougar Knob / Moose Wallows

• Introduction: setting the intellectual and ecological context for the knowledge and experience to be gained in the course
• Tracks and sign of black bear, bobcat, moose (also otter, fisher, mink as encountered)
• Tree and shrub identification as it relates to habitat quality and specific resources wildlife need and use
• Topographical features of the landscape as they relate to habitat quality
• Natural disturbance regimes and forest management – agents of change in the forest environment
• Introduction to wildlife foraging and cover requirements
• Search imaging – introduction and practice

Witness Draw (including the 'Babysitter Swamp') – always done in winter

• Bear sign, fisher tracks and sign; also possible tracks and sign of otter, bobcat and mink
• Protocol terminology – 'core habitat', 'corridor', 'linkage zone,' 'transect', 'focal species'
• Search imaging – continued practice

Bobby Knob (always offered in February or March)

• Focus on bobcat: the importance of cliffy refugia, including dens, lays, thermal and security habitat
• Continued practice with track and sign identification and search imaging (bear, fisher, moose, as well as other non-focal species, including coyote and red fox)

NOTE: In the event of snow or rain, the Bobby Knob class will be postponed. Class members should consult their coordinators in order to determine the status of this class.

Local Field Trips

In addition to the three workshops at Wolfrun, there will be three field trips scheduled to take place in your own community:

• Focus on one or more of the focal species, with emphasis on otter, mink and other species of local interest
• Later workshops allow for practice with data forms, photo-documentation, and identification of tracks and sign of focal species

Indoor Classes

These classes occur locally, usually offered in the evening when Keeping Track staff are in your region conducting a field workshop.

Class 1 (Occurs close to the second or third field workshop)

• Foot morphology as it relates to accurate track identification: inspection of and discussion about Sue's collection of freeze-dried mammal feet

Class 2 (Occurs during latter half of the course)

• Intro to next steps after training: Super Map Session and field reconnaissance
• Slide show with comprehensive coverage of all species, including four Threatened and Endangered species

Readings and 'Dirt Time'

As part of the course, Keeping Track expects participants to read the following materials:

• Keeping Track Tracker's Packet (containing articles on each species and conservation biology topics)
• Keeping Track Project and Data Management Protocol
• Keeping Track Guide to Photographing Animal Tracks and Sign

Keeping Track recommends these resources on tracking:

Paul Rezendes. 1999. Tracking and the Art of Seeing. 2^nd Edition. Harper Perennial.

James Halfpenny. 1998. Scats and Tracks of the Northeast. Falcon Press.

Lynn Levine and Martha Mitchell. 2001. Mammal Tracks: Life-Size Tracking Guide. Heartwood Press.

Diane Gibbons. 2003. Mammal Tracks and Sign of the Northeast. University of New England Press.

Mark Elbroch. 2003. Mammal Tracks and Sign: A Guide to North American Species. Stackpole Press.

Keeping Track recommends participants create the opportunity while taking our course to get in additional 'dirt time', practicing your new found skills in track and sign identification, search imaging, photography, and data collection with other trackers. Consider taking additional 'graduate-level' workshops offered by KT as well as other tracking classes offered by tracking experts from your region (the above resources provide lists of tracking experts).

Subjects beyond the basic course

The following subjects are offered by Keeping Track for an additional cost to KTMPs that can organize participants:

• “The Do's and Don'ts of Transect Design and Location” – a post-Super Map Session, hands-on weekend class, which we can offer in your region
• Use of Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment
• Map reading and interpretation, including coordinate systems ('UTMs')
• Further discussion of data collection and entry, including a tutorial on Keeping Track's database
• Tracking refresher, including fun and educational games ( Keeping Track's 'Track Runners' and 'Quick Paw Relay')
• Preparation for the Super Map Session (I.e., forming a plan for this important community meeting when local expertise and natural resource professionals gather together to review maps and help KTMP leaders identify important habitats for reconnaissance and monitoring. Teams compile topo maps, aerial photos for this session).