Events
Cedar Creek Fall Survey: Sep 21-22
 Our
Fall Survey will include three field sessions over two days, plus an
opportunity to stay overnight at Cedar Creek. We will head out in teams
to survey sand roads and check track plates, then come back in to share
our discoveries with one another. Each team will be led by an
experienced wildlife tracker, certified in Track & Sign identification. Here is the schedule for the weekend. Saturday, September 21 Session 1: 9:00am ~ 12:00pm Lunch: ~12:00pm - 1:00pm Session 2: 1:00pm ~ 5:00pm Sunday, September 22 Session 3: 9:00am ~ 4:00pm (including lunch in the field) Bring
your own lunches. We will have lunch at the Lindeman Center on Saturday
and (weather permitting) in the field on Sunday. Cedar Creek will
provide coffee and snacks. Overnight AccommodationsFor
those who would like to stay overnight on Saturday, Cedar Creek is
offering us housing on campus for the extraordinary low rate of $7
(there is an additional fee if you want Cedar Creek to provide linens).
Our dorm can accommodate 10 people. Register right away to guarantee
your spot. Meals will be on our own, and each dorm has complete kitchen
facilities.RegistrationRegistration is required. To register, email Jonathan Poppele <poppele@umn.edu> or use our contact form. Let us know which sessions you plan to attend, and if you plan to stay overnight.Want to Carpool?We have a new tool to help coordinate carpooling. If you would like to share the trip to Cedar Creek, you can use our Group Carpool page to offer or request a ride.Bring Your QuestionsIn
recent surveys, our teams
have identified the tracks of about 30 species including black bear,
fisher, mink, red fox and grey wolf. We have been noting the
behavior of deer, coyote and fox in relation to the shifting wolf
population, and seeing some of our wolf track sightings verified by
Cedar Creek's new network of trail cameras. A lot has been changing
every season and we are looking forward to
what we will find this summer. Some of the questions that came up after our summer survey include:
What questions do
you have about the landscape, the animals and their behavior? We will
take some time to share questions before we head out into the field. About Cedar CreekCedar
Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve is a 5,400 acre experimental ecological
reserve operated by the University of Minnesota. It is located about 35
miles north of Minneapolis and St. Paul, just east of Bethel.Cedar Creek lies at the boundary between prairie and forest. It is a mosaic of uplands dominated by oak savanna, prairie, hardwood forest, pine forests, and abandoned agricultural fields and of lowlands comprised of ash and cedar swamps, acid bogs, marshes, and sedge meadows. The area was first set aside in the early 1940s to be kept in its natural condition for scientific and educational purposes. Much of the land remains pristine, and has never been developed for agriculture. You can learn more at www.cedarcreek.umn.edu The diverse, pristine habitat supports a wide variety of mammals. Species seen on the property over the Reserve's 75 year history include white-tailed jackrabbits, badger, fisher, fox squirrels, porcupine & spotted skunks. Reserve staff and scientists are looking for our help to update their index of mammals. If you are a beginner, the surveys will offer an overview of the diversity of Minnesota Mammals. For the advanced tracker, you might get to try your hand at distinguishing fisher from otter; fox squirrel from grey squirrel; and a variety of tiny mammal tracks. You can take a look at some of what our tracking teams have found on our iNaturalist Project Page, or look read about our past surveys on our blog. The property includes 25 miles of sand roads, which catch tracks beautifully. The roads will be grated shortly before our surveys, offering optimal tracking conditions for us to locate and identify a rich diversity of species. Public access to the Reserve is limited. The Cedar Creek Wildlife Survey program offers you the rare opportunity to explore this exceptional landscape. Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve 2660 Fawn Lake Dr NE Bethel, Minnesota 55005 For a map & directions to Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, click here |
Tracking Club: Dog Days of August
 Sunday, August 18 9:00am - 1:00pm Minnehaha Dog Park 5399 Minnehaha Park Dr S Minneapolis, MN 55417 Domestic
dogs present a challenge to trackers. The tremendous variety of dog
breeds makes generalizations about dog tracks difficult. Individual dogs
may have tracks smaller than those of a kit fox, or larger than those
of a grey wolf. Some dogs leave round, cat-like tracks, others leave
prints very similar to coyote. In recent years, Linda Bittle has been
helping the tracking community build our understanding of domestic dog
tracks. This month, we will make a visit to the Minnehaha Off-Leash Dog
Park to study canine prints and help contribute to Linda Bittle's body
of research. ***Please note that you need a Minneapolis city permit to bring your dog with you to the park*** **Also note that all nearby parking is metered** This is an all-weather event. Please bring
appropriate footwear and dress for several hours outdoors in whatever
weather we may have that day. We
will gather at 9:00 at the northern entrance to the dog park and head down toward the
river shortly afterwards. We will wrap up and return to the park
entrance before 1:00pm. If you need
to reach us the day of the outing, please call Jon's cell phone at
612-388-4700.
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Cloquet Wildlife Survey: Sat, Aug 17
 Schedule for Saturday, August 17 Our
summer survey will run a bit over half the day. We plan to divide into
teams and survey the sand-roads for track and sign, then come back in to
share our discoveries with one another. Our plan is to have each team
led by an experienced wildlife tracker, certified in Track & Sign identification. Here is an approximate schedule for the day:9:30 Gathering on campus 9:45 Shuttle to survey routes 2:00 Gather for lunch in the field & to share our stories 3:00 Depart RegistrationAdvanced registration is required. To ease our planning, please register by Thursday, August 16.To register, use our contact form, or email Rachael Olesiak <rolesiak@umn.edu> or Jonathan Poppele <poppele@umn.edu> Want to Carpool?We have a new tool to help coordinate carpooling. If you would like to share the trip to Cedar Creek, you can use our Group Carpool webpage to offer or request a ride.iNaturalistWe
use iNaturalist as a tool for recording and sharing our observations.
It is one of the ways we document what we find and report our results to
researchers at the Cloquet Forestry Center. You can view sightings from
our past surveys here on iNaturalist.
Not everyone needs to record observations in iNaturalist, but there
should be enough people in each group logging observations that all of
the groups findings get reported. To add observations to our project,
you will need an iNaturalist account, and be a member of the Cloquet Forestry Center Wildlife Tracking iNaturalist project. If you don't have an iNaturalist account, begin by signing up using this link. Once you have signed up, you can join the Cloquet Forestry Center Wildlife Tracking
project and add observations. You may also be interested in joining the
Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project and the North American Animal
Tracking Database and adding your tracking observations to these as
well. About Cloquet Forestry CenterThe
Cloquet Forestry Center, located 135 miles north of the Twin Cities,
has been the primary research and education forest for the University of
Minnesota for over a century. Located in the Lake Superior watershed in
northeastern Minnesota, this 3,400 acre experimental forest is home to
researchers, practitioners, students, and members of the public who are
interested in forest ecosystems and their sustainable management. The
Center sits inside the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation and partners with
the tribe on forest management and educational programming. It's
northern Minnesota biome is home to a diversity of wildlife including
moose, wolves, bears, lynx, bobcats, porcupines, pine martins, hares,
goshawks, deer, and ruffed grouse.The overnight lodging that is sometimes available at the Cloquet Forestry Center is filled up for the weekend. If you would like to head up on Friday, or stay in the area until Sunday, there are some nearby hotels that offer reasonable rates. These are two of the closest and least expensive options: 121 Big Lake Rd, Cloquet, MN 55720 1308 MN-33, Cloquet, MN 55720 Address, Map & Directions Cloquet Forestry Center 175 University Road, Cloquet, MN 55720 For a map & directions to Cloquet Forestry Center, click here |
Bird Language: Sun, Aug 4
Sunday, August 4 9:00 - 1:00 Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center 3815 American Blvd E Bloomington, MN 55425 Registration
for these gatherings is encouraged, but not required. Feel free to drop
by--and it would be great to know that you are coming! Birds talk to each other. We can learn to understand it. And it's fun!As we move into high summer, the woods begin to quiet. The songs of spring, and even the incessant begging calls of early summer are fading as tired parents and naive fledglings do their best to feed themselves while staying safe from hungry juvenile raptors. The forest may seem more subdued than in the spring, but drama abounds. Come join us on the slopes of the Mississippi River Valley to see what the birds have to tell us about their day-to-day lives.What should I bring?Bring what you need to be comfortable sitting still, outside on the ground for an extended period of time—perhaps as long as an hour. You will also need something to take notes on. You do not need to have binoculars, but there is no harm in bringing a pair if you would like. Here are a few recommended and optional items to bring:Recommended: Note pad & pencil Ground cloth, blanket or camp-chair Sun protection Bug protection Poncho if it is raining Optional: Water bottle Snack Binoculars Sign me up!Registration is encouraged, but not required. Feel free to drop in and join us—and it would be great to know you are coming! If you have any questions, or to register for the event:
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July Tracking Club: Small Mammal Survey
 8:00am - 11:00am Saint
Paul Parks and Recreation is organizing a small mammal survey
exclusively for members of the Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project. We
will work alongside Brie Ilarde, a small mammal researcher from the
University of Minnesota, to document the inhabitants of Bruce Vento
Nature Sanctuary. This is a great opportunity for us to learn about some
of the diversity of small mammals in our urban environment. Meet just inside the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary entrance: At the corner of Commercial St & 4th St E St Paul, MN 55106  Sign me up!The program is free for members of the Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project, but registration is required and we are limited to 15 participants. To register:
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Trailing Practice: Sat, Jul 20
To support our members
growing interest in trailing, we host monthly practice sessions
at a variety of locations in and around the Metro Area. This month, we
will return to Reservoir Woods in Roseville, a 115 acre undeveloped park with a dense population of suburban deer.  |
Cedar Creek Summer Survey, Sat Jul 13
The
Cedar Creek Wildlife Survey is a joint venture between the Minnesota
Wildlife Tracking Project and the University of Minnesota's Cedar Creek
Ecosystem Science Reserve. It is a unique opportunity
to improve your tracking skills, connect with nature, and help Cedar
Creek scientists learn about the wildlife living on their property. You can read about our last survey here, and our summer 2018 survey here on our blog. |
Bird Language: Sun, Jul 7
Sunrday, July 7
9:00 - 1:00 Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center 3815 American Blvd E Bloomington, MN 55425 Registration for these gatherings is encouraged, but not required. Feel
free to drop by--and it would be great to know that you are coming! Birds talk to each other. We can learn to understand it. And it's fun!Celebrate the weekend after Independence Day eavesdropping on the birds along the wooded slopes of the Mississippi River Valley. As we move into the height of summer, we can expect to be surrounded by all five voices of the birds signing, screaming, begging, gossiping, jeering & tattling on each other like tiny, feathered fireworks.What should I bring?Bring what you need to be comfortable sitting still, outside on the ground for an extended period of time—perhaps as long as an hour. You will also need something to take notes on. You do not need to have binoculars, but there is no harm in bringing a pair if you would like. Here are a few recommended and optional items to bring:Recommended: Note pad & pencil Ground cloth, blanket or camp-chair Sun protection Bug protection Poncho if it is raining Optional: Water bottle Snack Binoculars Sign me up!Registration is encouraged, but not required. Feel free to drop in and join us—and it would be great to know you are coming! If you have any questions, or to register for the event:
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June Tracking Club: Sign O' The Times
 Sunday, June 16 9:00am - 1:00pm We will gather at the Cleary Lake visitor center: Cleary Lake Visitor Center 18106 Texas Ave Prior Lake, MN 55372 With the Minnesota River still above flood stage, and Ft. Snelling State Park still closed, we will head down to the south suburbs to look for animal sign at Cleary Lake Regional Park. The park encompasses a bit over 1,200 acres of lake, forest, wetland and old fields. There may not be many good "track traps" in the park, so we will focus on sign. This is an all-weather event and we spend time off trail in potentially wet conditions. Please bring appropriate footwear and dress for several hours outdoors in whatever weather we may have that day. Please also take precautions for ticks. The DNR advises using permethrin treated clothing as well as checking for ticks after being in the field. We
will gather at 9:00 the Visitor Center. We will head out on the trail by about 9:20 and return to the Visitor Center before 1:00pm to wrap up. If you need
to reach us the day of the outing, please call Jon's cell phone at
612-388-4700. Note that cell reception may be spotty in the park.
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Trailing Practice: Sat, June 15
To
support our members' growing interest in trailing, we host monthly
practice sessions at a variety of locations in and around the Metro
Area. This month we will meet at Coldwater Spring, located along the bike trail between Minnehaha Park and Ft, Snelling. With Pike Island and much of the Ft Snelling bottom lands still flooded, many deer are moving to higher ground. Let's see if we can pick up their trails up along bluffs. |
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