Fundamentals of Wildlife Tracking, Wenatchee River Institute

2-Day Course, 9am-5pm on Sept. 21 & 22: Have you ever stepped over an animal track in the mud, seen a pile of scat or scratches on a tree and wondered, who made it? Join WRI and professional wildlife tracker and educator Marcus Reynerson of Duvall, WA's Wilderness Awareness School, to learn about the art and science of wildlife tracking! Through a combination of class time and field time, you will become grounded in the context for what wildlife tracking is, and particularly in how it is relevant to a variety of people: from wildlife scientists to conservationists, or simply to people who want to be more connected to the natural world in the places they live. Wildlife tracking offers a holistic ecological window into the happenings of the living world surrounding us. By becoming aware of the wildlife that live in our backyards, the world around us takes on a completely different feel. In this course, you will gain the skill-set to start, or to continue, exploring the vast world of wildlife tracking. In this 2-day course we will cover: • Natural history, taxonomy, and regional wildlife • Basic wildlife foot morphology • Clear print identification • Behavior and wildlife sign interpretation • Track aging • How wildlife interacts with varying landscapes • The fundamentals of following animal trails • The art of inquiry and engaging curiosity