Wildlife Tracking Basics

Registration Information

Have you ever stepped over a track in the mud and wondered what animal made the print? Are you eager to know more about the animals in your backyard? Do you want to see more wildlife? Explore the art and science of wildlife tracking with our expert instructors! Tracking provides a new lens for viewing the wild (and urban) places that you frequent. By being more in tune with wildlife, the patterns of animals, and the rhythms of your ecosystem, you can feel a deep sense of belonging with the world around you. 

In this weekend course, you will learn the foundational tools to identify track and sign of wild animals. We’ll cover:

• Track and sign identification
• How to journal wildlife tracks effectively
• Animal gaits
• Interpreting tracks from an ecological viewpoint
• How to find areas that are dense with wildlife
• And more!

This class is being held in conjunction with the first weekend of our yearlong Wildlife Tracking Intensive program.

Wildlife tracking will help you feel connected and curious to your surroundings. Alongside our community of inspiring students and highly skilled facilitators, this weekend may launch you into a lifelong journey of connecting with wildlife!

Program Logistics

Class takes place on our 60-acre property outside of Duvall, WA. It will go from 9-4pm Saturday and Sunday. Participants will need to bring lunch, snacks, and water for each day.

Camping is available Saturday night on our campus. To register, select “Optional Camping” under the Additional Options section during the registration process. Camping is at your own risk and available only for Saturday. Potable water and porta-potty access are provided. More details will be provided in the Program Details upon registration.

Meet Your Instructors

Lead Instructor: Mark Kang O’Higgins

Mark has been teaching wildlife tracking at Wilderness Awareness School since 2008. He is the Lead Instructor and Coordinator of the Tracking Intensive program. Mark is a Track and Sign Specialist certified by CyberTracker International. He has a BA and MA in Sociology of Environment, and a HDip in Science & Technology Studies. He is a guest instructor with The Immersion, where he teaches about the art of seeing, drawing, and perspective in relation to wildlife tracking. Mark has been a team leader on the Cascades Wildlife Monitoring Project. Mark also holds an MFA and works as a professional artist and was one of the artist contributors to Peterson Field Guide to North American Bird Nests, and runs the KOH Atelier Program at the Gage Academy of Art. View his work at kangohiggins.com. 

Support Instructor: Adam Martin

Adam first took Tracking Intensive in 2008, where he is now a core instructor. Adam has also been on the leadership team for the Cascade Wildlife Monitoring project since 2009. He has a long background in nature education and has worked professionally in conservation science and ecological restoration since 2011. Adam has a BA/BS in natural history, environmental education, and ecology from The Evergreen State College where he has also earned his Masters in Conservation Ecology.