WOLVERINE TRACKING PROJECT:
community science
RARE CARNIVORE MONITORING ON THE MT HOOD NATIONAL FOREST
community science
RARE CARNIVORE MONITORING ON THE MT HOOD NATIONAL FOREST
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Wolverine Tracking Project is a volunteer-powered community science project collecting data on rare carnivores and other wildlife in Mt. Hood National Forest. The name honors our origins. In 2003, the Forest Service asked local trackers to investigate reported wolverine sightings around Mt. Hood. While we never confirmed wolverines here, the search ignited something special. The project has grown to incorporate three additional target carnivore species and now encompass not only tracking data, but also uses cameras and scat surveys as well.
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The Wolverine Tracking Project provides a chance for volunteers to learn about forest wildlife, develop their outdoor skills, and connect with others, while helping with an important research project. WTP collects data on four species of special concern in Oregon - wolverine, Sierra Nevada red fox, gray wolf, and Pacific marten. The data we collect is used by the Mt Hood National Forest, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other researchers to help guide wildlife and resource management and the establishment of protections for rare carnivores.
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OVERVIEW OF WOLVERINE TRACKING PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Data is collected entirely by volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to connect with the wildlife and wild places around Mt Hood. We have multiple kinds of surveys that volunteers participate in including Wildlife Camera Surveys, Winter Tracking Surveys, and Scat Surveys.
• Enjoy trips to Mt Hood
• Learn about our local wildlife
• Gain valuable field-based experience
• Help increase knowledge of rare carnivores to better steward our forests
• Connect to the natural world
• Learn about our local wildlife
• Gain valuable field-based experience
• Help increase knowledge of rare carnivores to better steward our forests
• Connect to the natural world
WILDLIFE CAMERA SURVEYWildlife camera volunteers maintain over 21 trail cameras throughout Mt Hood National Forest in both summer and winter seasons. Camera volunteers are responsible for checking a camera site every four weeks to apply fresh bait, swap the camera's memory card and batteries, look for genetic samples, and make sure the site is operational.
Summer camera survey season: May to November Winter camera survey season: November to April Training: May/June or November |
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Sierra Nevada red fox Scat SurveySierra Nevada red foxes have been making the mountainous peaks of Oregon's Cascades and the Sierra Nevadas home since the last Ice Age. However, these foxes were only recently confirmed to still be living on Mt. Hood in 2012 - by the Wolverine Tracking Project!
Like other canines, red fox use scat to mark their territory, and often leave it on trails or other travel corridors. Choose your favorite trail on Mt Hood, go hiking, and watch your step! Scat provide genetic samples that yield invaluable data about ancestry, population size, habitat connectivity, and more. Fox scat survey season: June to November Training: June |
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WOLF TRACKING SurveyHelp monitor the presence of wolves in the Mt Hood National Forest. As with our winter tracking surveys, surveys will be done in groups lead by experienced trackers, to provide provide a place where people of all skill levels can come and explore the forest for sign of wolves and other wildlife.
Wolf tracking survey season: May to November Training: May |
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Winter tracking Survey
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Group Tracking Surveys, led by experienced volunteer Tracking Leaders, take place most winter weekends, conducting tracking surveys by snowshoe. Tracking - reading footprints in the snow - can open your eyes to a new way of seeing the world.
If you are new to tracking, we will get you started with a training and an Introduction to Wildlife Tracking class. For those looking to further develop their tracking and outdoor leadership skills, we also have a Tracking Apprenticeship. For the experienced tracker, we invite you to Become a Tracking Leader. Winter tracking survey season: December to March Registration and trainings: November |
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SPONSOR A TRAIL CAMERA
research data
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The Wolverine Tracking Project collects data on four species of special concern in Oregon - wolverine, Sierra Nevada red fox, gray wolf, and Pacific marten.
These target species are listed as Oregon Conservation Strategy Species, which are Oregon’s species of greatest conservation need. Our data directly supports data gaps identified for each species, by monitoring for wolverine in the Cascades, supporting data collection efforts involving genetics for the Sierra Nevada Red Fox, adding to observations on the distribution and habitat use of wolves, and addressing data gaps for martens outside the Blue Mountains.
In addition to searching for our target rare carnivores, the project collects data on other carnivores and prey of the forest, from Douglas squirrel to elk to bobcats, bears, and every mammal or ground bird in between. This cumulative data tells us a story of the forest: the life it currently supports and how the ecosystem is changing over the days, seasons, and years. Probable climate change and burgeoning population growth in Portland, with attendant increases in recreation and other land uses, can bring about fundamental changes to wildlife habitat, making the need for long-term surveys even more important than before.
These target species are listed as Oregon Conservation Strategy Species, which are Oregon’s species of greatest conservation need. Our data directly supports data gaps identified for each species, by monitoring for wolverine in the Cascades, supporting data collection efforts involving genetics for the Sierra Nevada Red Fox, adding to observations on the distribution and habitat use of wolves, and addressing data gaps for martens outside the Blue Mountains.
In addition to searching for our target rare carnivores, the project collects data on other carnivores and prey of the forest, from Douglas squirrel to elk to bobcats, bears, and every mammal or ground bird in between. This cumulative data tells us a story of the forest: the life it currently supports and how the ecosystem is changing over the days, seasons, and years. Probable climate change and burgeoning population growth in Portland, with attendant increases in recreation and other land uses, can bring about fundamental changes to wildlife habitat, making the need for long-term surveys even more important than before.
DOES THIS MEAN THERE ARE wolverineS ON MT HOOD?
Unfortunately, not. The Wolverine Tracking Project started by a group of trackers as an attempt to verify reports of wolverine sightings in the Mt Hood area in 2003. We were not able to substantiate these reports, or find other evidence of wolverine. However our interest in the search - and in wolverine - was sparked. The project has grown to incorporate three additional target carnivore species and now encompass not only tracking data, but also uses cameras and scat surveys as well.
Wolverine were once an important part of this ecosystem, and are now making a comeback in other areas of their range. We hope to one day detect one on Mt Hood!
Wolverine were once an important part of this ecosystem, and are now making a comeback in other areas of their range. We hope to one day detect one on Mt Hood!
Or check out our blog for recent trip reports and wildlife survey photos
thank you to our sponsors
We would like to thank the following organizations for their generous support of the Wolverine Tracking Project this winter!
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