Wildlife Trailing Workshop

Trailing is the practice of following the trail left behind by an animal with the intention of finding the animal and/or interpreting its behavior from the tracks and signs it has left behind. Trailing can be physically demanding depending on the landscape and species being followed. Participants should be prepared for long field days and cross country travel over uneven ground.

Course Objectives

Develop the ability to find and follow tracks in simple and challenging substrates efficiently.
Practice following trails of medium and large sized mammals over varied terrain in a safe and efficient manner.
Introduce concepts and practice techniques for predicting wildlife movement patterns and using tracking to follow and find animals.

Schedule: Two Day Workshop

Day 1

Exercises: Finding vague tracks, seeing tracks far ahead on the trail, efficient aging of tracks.

Trailing role-modeled and practice.

Sign-cutting, lost trail procedures, trailing with others, assessing and managing wind and safety.

Day 2

Trailing practice and feedback.

Moving beyond the trail: using tracking to predicting where and when to find wildlife.

Equipment

Daypack

Food and water for the day

Sun protection and warm layers as appropriate

Notebook

Camera (video capacity if you want to have some of your trailing videoed)

Binoculars