Learn to read the tracks and sign of your wild neighbors through this six-month program, open to adults of any experience level. 

Topics covered:

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Print Identification: We will practice track ID of both clear and obscure prints, learning the "field marks" for quick recognition, plus strategies for analyzing tricky tracks.

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Track Patterns and Animal Movement: Reading track patterns and translating them into how the animal was moving unlocks our ability to visualize the animal that left the tracks. Was the animal relaxed or fleeing? Were they walking, trotting, bounding, loping or galloping? We will learn the "baseline" movement of our local species and how to recognize changes.

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Winter Trailing and Wildlife Ecology: Winter snow offers an unparalleled opportunity to follow trails and read the story of how each animal interacts with their local environment. Whenever conditions allow for it, our winter tracking days will be based around following carnivore trails, reading their behavior, and looking for other wildlife sign along the way.

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Animal Sign and Marking Behavior: Feeding sign; dens, beds and lays; scat and territorial marking. As we learn to recognize these signs, the woods light up with activity in all seasons. We will spend ample time investigating the world of wildlife sign and developing our eye for how and where to look.

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Program Details:

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Field sessions will take place in Burlington and the surrounding area (up to 30 minutes drive away, with carpooling options). Each session will take advantage of what the current weather and snow conditions have to offer, with locations determined a few days prior. 

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There will be optional "homework" assignments over the six-month program for those looking to extend their learning.​​​​​

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