Fundamentals of Wildlife Tracking

The ability to find, identify, and interpret the multitude of animal tracks and signs produced by wild animals requires careful observation skills as well as a depth of knowledge of wildlife behavior and ecology.

Join us to learn or refine your fundamental tracking skills. Based out of Linne Doran, our comfortable wooded campus in Duvall, WA we will spend the weekend practicing numerous wildlife tracking skills including:

• Techniques and observation skills for finding tracks and signs
• Identification of tracks and signs
• Track aging
• Animal locomotion and track pattern interpretation
• Interpretation of wildlife behavior and ecological relationships
• Trailing and other techniques for finding wildlife
• Landscape level pattern recognition and interpretation
• Documentation techniques for naturalists and researchers
• Introduction to the natural history and conservation of Northwest Regional mammal species.
• History and evolution of the practice of wildlife tracking

This intensive course blends quality training in techniques and theory with hands on mentored practice in the field. Expect long days that will include: structured practical exercises, slide presentations, and hands on applications in the field. The content and structure of this course make it valuable whether you are interested in strengthening your skills as a naturalist or are a student in the field of wildlife science.

Along with your skilled instructor, this course will be supported by several teaching assistants who have extensive experience teaching and practicing various aspects of animal tracking in the field. You will leave this program with a strong set of practical field skills to take along as you continue your learning journey.

Instructor Biography

David Moskowitz is our lead Wildlife Tracking Programs Instructor and the project manager for the Cascade Wildlife Monitoring Project. He joined Wilderness Awareness School in 2005, bringing with him over a decade of experience teaching outdoor and environmental education throughout the United States including at Outward Bound and the North Cascades Institute. David is a skilled field researcher and has been involved with forest carnivore research and wildlife monitoring in the Cascades for many years as well as avian research in the Puget Sound area.

He holds a bachelors degree in Environmental Studies through Prescott College with an emphasis on Field Ecology and Wildlife Tracking. David is an active member of the International Society of Professional Trackers and has given many talks and presentations on wildlife and tracking based on his years of field work and teaching. He holds professional certifications in wildlife tracking, wilderness medicine, avalanche safety and sits on the Board of Directors for Rite of Passage Journeys where he is the chairman of the Safety Committee. His writings on wilderness skills, environmental education, natural history and tracking have appeared in numerous regional and national publications including Green Teacher, Wilderness Way, and the Wilderness Education Association Journal. Along with tracking wild animals, mountaineering, environmental activism and photography are several of his passions.