Introduction to Winter Wildlife Tracks and Sign – Classroom and Field Session

When: Friday, February  27th, 1:30-5:00 PM

Where: Summit Room

Join Fiera Biological’s Shari Clare and Joseph Litke for this dynamic workshop opportunity where you will learn to identify the tracks and sign of wildlife in snow. Whether you are a seasoned wildlife tracking veteran or new to the art and science of tracking, there is something for everyone to learn in this workshop that will include a combination of classroom and field practice. Everyone who attends will receive a Record of Completion to document their training time, which will be sent to participants by email after the conference. Optional printed materials will be available for an additional fee.

Classroom session – This one-hour session will be aimed at introducing participants to the key features to look for when identifying track-makers. Learn to avoid common pitfalls in track identification by practicing a multi-factor identification process.

Field-based workshop session – Immediately following the classroom session, participants will explore a natural area within Banff National Park and will review the lessons learned during the classroom session in a hands-on, practical way. In this two-hour field session, participants will learn and practice seeing features within tracks and track patterns that lead to confident species identifications. The species, trail-types, and sign diversity covered will depend on what we find in nature on the day of the workshop, but the knowledge gained by participants will be enhanced and expanded through the questions and resulting discussions that occur throughout the session. Please note that the field portion will require driving to the location.

Bios of the Presenters
Shari and Joseph are co-founders of Fiera Biological and Senior Biologists, each with over 25 years of experience working across western Canada. The time they have spent exploring wild places, both professionally and recreationally, has cultivated a deep respect and enthusiastic knowledge of wildlife and their habitats. They each hold high-level certifications in wildlife Track & Sign from Tracker Certification North America and have used tracking throughout their careers to monitor and assess wildlife. Over the past decade, they have shared their expertise widely, leading and assisting in tracking workshops and courses that have reached hundreds of wildlife professionals and outdoor enthusiasts across Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Montana. They are especially grateful for opportunities to share their knowledge with other wildlife professionals who use tracking for research and conservation purposes.