Wildlife Tracking Online Course
This course is designed to increase your familiarity with tracks and sign of northeastern mammals and introduce you to a set of practices to enhance your learning process.
Suitable for total beginner through intermediate-level trackers. Start anytime - the course begins with finding tracking spots in all seasons.
Online course enrollment includes:
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8 online modules to access at your own pace
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Each module includes 30-60 mins of content including videos (mostly slideshow presentations), images, and text
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Optional "homework" and suggested field exercises
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Access to a community board to ask questions and share your discoveries and progress in the course
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Access to all materials for 2 years from the date of enrollment
What's required:
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Computer and sufficient internet connectivity to stream video
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Strongly recommended: Mark Elbroch's Mammal Tracks & Sign of North America or another tracking field guide
Course outline:
Unit 1 - Introduction
Unit 2 - Tracking Spots & Track Interpretation
Unit 3 - Walkers & Trotters
Unit 4 - Bounders
Unit 5 - Lopes & Gallops
Unit 6 - Wetland Field Trip
Unit 7 - Forest Field Trip
Unit 8 - Final Steps
Topics Covered:
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Locating a tracking area
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Approaches to tracking
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Interpreting clear and unclear prints
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Following trails
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Distinguishing commonly-confused species
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Wildlife behavior and natural history
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Track patterns and gaits
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Measuring and photographing tracks for expert confirmation
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Accessing tracking resources
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Using trail cameras
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Scat and other wildlife sign
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Tracking beyond the snow season
It may seem counterintuitive to spend time at a computer learning an outdoor skill, but this course is designed to offer a structure to enhance your field time and accelerate your learning. It will provide you with lots of examples and search images to go looking for in the field, as well as tips on where to go look.