Wildlife Tracking Classes
Most mammals are hard to observe directly, so instead, we learn about their presence through the tracks and signs they leave behind. Tracking teaches us how to pay attention to our surroundings and to recognize signs of past events that are everywhere on the landscape - ultimately teaching us how everything on earth is interconnected.
Tracking at Fernhill Wetlands
Sunday, April 7, 2024, 1:00-3:00pm Fernhill Wetlands is home to a rich diversity of mammals and birds. Come explore the wetlands and learn to read the story written the tracks we find in the mud, in order to give us an understanding of what animals are living here. The class is sponsored by Clean Water Services. When: Sunday, April 7, 1:00-3:00pm Where: Fernhill Wetlands, 1399 SW Fern Hill Rd, Forest Grove, OR 97116. See map. Cost: FREE. Advance registration necessary. Read more about Fernhill Wetlands here. |
Wildlife Tracking and Awareness: with Future Nature
Sunday, June 9 This class is a collaboration between Cascsdia Wild and Future Nature, a new school in Portland run by Tom Brown III. This promises to be a learning-filled opportunity! Details coming soon! |
Wildlife Tracking in the Cascades
Saturday, August 24, 9:30-3:30 In the heat of summer, dusty dirt roads offer some of the best tracking substrate around. Dust can show very fine details, sometimes showing tracks as small as insect tracks. Visit some of the dusty road on the east side of the Mt Hood National Forest and take your tracking to the next level. Previous tracking experience recommended but not required. When: Saturday, August 24, 9:30-3:30 Location: Mt Hood National Forest. Exact location TBD Cost: $80. Current Cascadia Wild volunteers receive $10 off the cost, use promo code CaWVolunteer10off at checkout |
Introduction to Wildlife Tracking
Please check back in August for 2024 dates! 2023: Online class: Thursday, November 9, 2023, 6:30-8:30 pm Optional field class (choose one): November 11, November 19, or November 25, 10:00am - 12:00pm (noon) Learn how to identify tracks and trail patterns. This class is designed to help get you started in learning how to track wildlife, focusing on how to see tracks, what to look for, and a great overview of the tracks and trail patterns of the more common mammals you might find. This class focuses primarily on the mammals of the Mt Hood area (though most of the same animals are found in the Portland area as well), and is recomended training for participating in the Wolverine Tracking Project tracking surveys. Cost: Sliding scale, $65 recommended, but pay what you can and no one turned away for lack of funds Location of field class: Oxbow Regional Park. There is no extra charge for the field class, however, there is a $5 entrance fee to the park. |
Naturalist Training Program: Reading the Landscape
The Naturalist Training Program is a series of 8 classes designed to give you a wide variety of skills to make you feel at home in the natural world. Tracking is a large component of these classes, and topics in botany, ecology, navigation and map reading, wilderness survival skills, and reading the landscape are also covered.
The Naturalist Training Program is a series of 8 classes designed to give you a wide variety of skills to make you feel at home in the natural world. Tracking is a large component of these classes, and topics in botany, ecology, navigation and map reading, wilderness survival skills, and reading the landscape are also covered.
Cybertracker Track and Sign Evaluation
with David Moskowitz
February 15-16 2020
About Cybertracker: Cybertracker classes provide an opportunity for quality, focused learning from some of the best trackers in the country. They are designed to further participant's tracking knowledge, as well as to rigorously test and document their current tracking skill set. Originally designed to help African Bushmen gain employment on game preserves, they also provide an internationally recognized certification of tracking ability, an important credential for wildlife researchers and environmental educators as well as for people who want test and push their own ability. Evaluations are entirely field based, striving to expose participants to the widest range of tracks and signs as possible. Discussions are encouraged, giving participants a chance to air their thoughts and receive individualized instruction.
This class will be located at several different field locations on the Mt Hood National Forest, within an hour and a half drive of Portland. It will be held during winter in the mountains, and participants are expected to transport themselves to class locations. In the event of inclement weather, the instructor may move the course to lower elevations. No refunds will be given for inclement weather unless the course is canceled by the instructor.
with David Moskowitz
February 15-16 2020
About Cybertracker: Cybertracker classes provide an opportunity for quality, focused learning from some of the best trackers in the country. They are designed to further participant's tracking knowledge, as well as to rigorously test and document their current tracking skill set. Originally designed to help African Bushmen gain employment on game preserves, they also provide an internationally recognized certification of tracking ability, an important credential for wildlife researchers and environmental educators as well as for people who want test and push their own ability. Evaluations are entirely field based, striving to expose participants to the widest range of tracks and signs as possible. Discussions are encouraged, giving participants a chance to air their thoughts and receive individualized instruction.
This class will be located at several different field locations on the Mt Hood National Forest, within an hour and a half drive of Portland. It will be held during winter in the mountains, and participants are expected to transport themselves to class locations. In the event of inclement weather, the instructor may move the course to lower elevations. No refunds will be given for inclement weather unless the course is canceled by the instructor.