Winter Wildlife Review 2020-21

The Wolverine Tracking Project Winter Wildlife Surveys have drawn to a close, and summer is just on the horizon. As we take a look back at findings and best photos from the season, we have a lot to celebrate! And, if you are so inclined, check out our official Wolverine Tracking Project annual research report here, for all the findings of the past year!

Before we get to the winter review, we'd like to invite everyone reading this to join us this summer for our Camera, Fox, and, for returning volunteers, our Gray Wolf Surveys. Trainings are starting this month, and the deadline to apply for a Camera Crew is next Monday, May 10.

Learn more about Camera Crew and Fox Team: ​

Join the WTP

If you're a returning volunteer and would like to join the Wolf Team, contact us and let us know!

If you need some inspiration to join us this summer, or if you could just use some inspiration in general, check out Jon Biemer's new book Our Environmental Handprints: Recover the Land, Reverse Global Warming, Reclaim the Future. Jon Biemer is a friend and member of our amazing Cascadia Wild community, and in the book he discusses the ways in which we all can, and do, make positive, collective change through the small actions of our daily lives. One tip from the book: "Embrace Citizen Science. Join an organization such as Cascadia Wild, which tracks wildlife on Oregon’s Mount Hood." Jon goes on to say: "Anyone participating in a Cascadia Wild program contributes to a beautiful Collective Handprint of awareness and commitment." 

Jon wrote a beautiful open letter to Cascadia Wild, which you can read here. We also encourage you to check out his book which offers many other ideas for positive involvement, or what Jon calls "handprint opportunities."

Looking for more to read? Join us this May 25 for Nature Book Club, where we'll discuss The Hidden Lives of Owls: The Science and Spirit of Nature's Most Elusive Birds by Leigh Calvez - who will also be joining us! 

Want something more hands-on? We are excited to announce that Tracking Club is back! We'll meet Sunday, May 23rd at the Oxbow Park floodplain to see what animals have been in the area recently.  

To get you excited for all the different kinds of tracks you might find, check out our Carnivore Tracking Challenge winners. We have submissions for sign from great horned owl, big cats, and - yes, you're going to read this right - WOLVERINE!!!  

Clubs

Carnivore Challenge

And now the review!

Wolverine Tracking Project Winter Findings

A snowy scenic image of Newton Creek submitted by a volunteer. A small creek divides two snowy banks, with a line of snow tipped trees and Mt. Hood in the background.

Volunteers retrieved beautiful trail camera images, took stellar pictures of tracks, kept their eyes peeled for scat, urine, and other sign, and supporters helped us meet our fundraising goal! All of these contributions allow us to continue building a robust narrative of the animals of Mt. Hood National Forest and allow us to keep documenting wildlife in a meaningful way. Whether you were part of a Camera Crew, a Tracker, or had wanted to join but weren't able to due to pandemic, or if instead you supported us from home: Thank you, thank you!

Camera Crews committed over 1000 hours to checking cameras and recording and uploading data! ​Trackers committed 137 hours and surveyed over 15 miles of transects, for a total of 181 tracks surveyed!

Read More