posted Jun 9, 2020, 6:28 PM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Jun 9, 2020, 6:39 PM
]
This month, I invite you to head out on a scavenger hunt for tracks & sign. This game is designed to help us take time with tracks and sign we might not normally or pay much attention to. Most items on the list represent broad categories and I invite you to interpret them in any way that will help you enjoy your time in the field and stretch yourself as a tracker.
The game is to find an example of each item and to identify it as specifically as possible. Some items are common and easy to locate, others much less so. A few are exceptionally rare or challenging to find. For purposes of the game, use each sign or set of tracks only once. If you find the half-understep walking trail of a snapping turtle, for example, count it either as an example of a Walk or as an example of a Testudines, but not both.
As with our previous "Socially
Distanced"
Tracking Clubs, this is a chance to explore some of your favorite places and share what you find with our group. The scavenger hunt also overlaps with the Carlos Avery Wildlife Survey, so bring your checklist for that as well. Here are the details:
- Between now and June 21, get out to a secluded natural area and look for examples of the tracks and sign on this Scavenger Hunt list.
- Gather around the digital campfire on Sunday afternoon for Stories of the Day.
- Zoom video conference, "Story of the Day: Hunting for Tracks & Sign"
- Sunday, June 21, 4:00pm
- Register in advance with this link
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
|
posted May 11, 2020, 12:21 PM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated May 11, 2020, 12:23 PM
]
It's time for the Cedar Creek Carlos Avery Wildlife Survey!Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve is currently closed to all public programs and non-essential research activity. But Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area is just down the road, and a great location for a socially distanced alternative to our Cedar Creek Summer Survey. So I invite you to take part in our latest asynchronous tracking club event, the Carlos
Avery Wildlife Survey. Here is a quick overview:
Here are all the details:
Carlos Avery: Where To GoThe Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area
covers about 24,000 acres to the south and east of Cedar Creek. It is
about 2/3 wetland and 1/3 upland and is managed primarily for Deer,
Waterfowl and Turkey. Interior roads at Carlos Avery are now open to motor vehicle traffic, and there are parking areas located throughout the property. You can download a PDF
map that shows parking locations here.
Many of the roads at Carlos Avery have sections of loose dirt or sand that capture clear tracks. Many are also heavily used by people and dogs. Only a few areas seem to reliably offer clear tracks of wild animals. You may have more success recording sign. Check out the observations from our Spring Survey to get an idea of where you might go to see various types of tracks and sign.
Hazards, Considerations & Conditions on the GroundTicks are out and Anoka county is considered high-risk areas for tick-born diseases. Please come
prepared and plan to do a thorough tick-check when you get home. Most experts now recommend permethrin treated clothing and a DEET based insect repellent, in addition to daily tick-checks. For
more information on protecting yourself from Lyme disease and other
tick-born illnesses check out this page from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Carlos Avery is considered a prime spot for
birding. You may want to bring binoculars and think about how to share
bird observations on iNaturalist. Maybe time to try digiscoping?
iNaturalist (please read this part)
As
most of you know, we use iNaturalist as a
tool for recording and sharing our observations. This platform will be
even more valuable for this survey as we get out on our own and make
individual observations. If you do not already have an iNaturalist
account, you can get one here.
For
this survey, our iNaturalist observations are not only a record of what
we find, they are also the way we will be able to discuss what we see
and get others help with identification and interpretation. Because of
this, we will want to document our findings more thoroughly than we may
be used to. Here are a few tips:
- When
we track, we use clues at multiple spatial scales to help us identify
and interpret what we find. Make sure to document multiple scales. A
good observation of tracks will include multiple, clear, in-focus
photographs of:
- Individual tracks with a ruler for scale
- Groups of tracks, showing enough to clearly interpret the track pattern.
- Context photos showing the habitat and how the animal is using that habitat
- For an excellent example of documenting tracks, see this Facebook post by German naturalist Simone Roters.
- These examples of bobcat, toad and chipmunk tracks on iNaturalist show how to document tracks and trails--but remember to add habitat shots as well.
- When
documenting sign, also take multiple, in-focus photographs of the sign
at multiple scales, including the habitat. Context is often even more
important for sign.
- These examples of squirrel and mouse feeding sing on iNaturalist are great examples of how to document sign.
- In
addition to your photographs, include notes about your observation to
help others interpret what they see in your photographs. You may want to
include measurements of tracks and trail parameters or notes about
behavior.
- When photographing tracks, remember these basic tips:
- Make
sure the outline of the track is clearly visible. In full sunshine, you
may need to shade the track. In flat light, you may need to side-light
the track with a flashlight.
- Try different exposures and
lighting conditions. You can delete the poor photos later, once you see
how things look on a full-sized screen.
- Take photos straight down. Even a slight angle can distort features and apparent size.
- Include
a ruler. Even then, your hand won't be the same distance from your lens
as the track, distorting the apparent size of the track.
- Use popsicle sticks, sticks, or arrows in the dirt to help point out track patterns if tracks are small or faint in the frame.
- Remember
that you can take photographs with any camera and add them to
iNaturalist once you are back home. I often take a placeholder
observation on my phone and additional photos with a camera to show
added detail.
At
the end of the weekend, you are invited to join us on a Zoom video
conference to share your story of the day, ask and answer questions, and
see what others found. We will gather on Sunday afternoon, so everyone
will have time to do some of their own research, upload observations,
and even get feedback from others on iNaturalists. Team
leads will be reviewing observations on Saturday evening and Sunday
afternoon. Here are all the details on the gathering:
Sunday, June 14, 4:00 PM We recommend registering for the gathering in advance. To register, follow this link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. |
posted May 11, 2020, 12:03 PM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated May 18, 2020, 3:30 PM
]
Over Memorial Day Weekend, we were scheduled to host Minnesota's first ever Track & Sign Specialist Evaluation. With the eval postponed, we are running "This is Not an Evaluation" in it's place. Here is how it will work:
This is Not an Evaluation Overview- Over Memorial Day Weekend, questions will be set up in and around Ft. Snelling State Park in the style of a Track & Sign Evaluation.
- A Google Form with photographs of the questions will be posted to the blog by early Saturday morning.
- Everyone who registers here for the debrief will receive an email with a direct link to the This is Not an Evaluation Form.
- Answer the questions by 2:00pm on Sunday, May 24.
- Gather for a debrief on Zoom at 4:00pm on Sunday, May 24.
These are Not Evaluation Questions- The questions will be set up in the style of a Track & Sign evaluation. In the spirit of a Specialist Evaluation, most will be similar to "3-point" CyberTracker questions.
- The number of questions will depend on conditions on the ground, but will likely be close to 30--similar to the number on a one-day evaluation.
- I will strive to document each question so all the information you need to answer the question is in the photos. So you can participate in This is Not an Evaluation entirely online.
- The questions will be marked in the field with circles, flags and/or popsicle sticks in the day or two before This is Not an Evaluation. The locations of the "Stations" will be posted with the form--but may get disturbed after they are marked.
- You will be able to fill out answers on the survey. Please submit your answers by 2:00pm on Sunday, May 24.
- You may participate in any you wish. If you want to practice as a mock eval, follow these guidelines:
- Answer on your own without consulting guidebooks or taking measurements.
- Do not use the "back" button on the form. Once you have "left" a "station," consider your answers final.
- At the end, you can request to receive Not an Evaluation Score, based on the CyberTracker scoring system, during the debrief.
This is Not an Evaluation Debrief- We will gather on Zoom at 4:00pm on Sunday, May 24, to debrief.
- You must register in advance for this Zoom gathering.
- If you register before the weekend, you will receive reminder emails, and a direct link to the Google Form.
- Register using this link
|
posted May 11, 2020, 9:06 AM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated May 11, 2020, 9:07 AM
]
In the past couple of weeks, the trees around the metro area have leafed out, and the canopy has filled in for the season. As we continue to practice Social Distancing to support the health and well being of our communities, there is no need to be left out of the opportunity to share the beauty of this time of year. Let's get out and explore close to home and share what we are seeing at our favorite, secluded spots.
Over
the coming days, we invite you to join us for our second "Socially Distanced"
Tracking Club. Once again, we invite you to bring the group to one of your favorite places and share what you are observing. Here's the plan:
- Over
the next few days, get out to a secluded natural area for some
socially distanced "dirt time." Look for tracks, sign, nesting birds, emerging insects, or whatever your heart desires.
- Gather around the digital campfire on Sunday afternoon for Stories of the Day.
- Zoom video conference, "Story of the Day: Leafed Out not Left Out"
- Sunday, May 17, 4:00pm
- Register in advance with this link
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
|
posted Apr 12, 2020, 7:12 PM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Apr 14, 2020, 1:19 PM
]
We have passed the Spring Equinox. Migratory songbirds are returning from the Neotropics. Frogs are singing in vernal pools. Barred owl chicks are begging in their nests. And it looks like the last snowstorm of the season may be behind us. It's time to get out and explore this changing of the season.
Over the coming days, we invite you to join us for a "Socially Distanced" Tracking Club. For a typical tracking club, we bring the group to one of our favorite places. This month, we get to bring our favorite places to the group. Here's the plan:
- Over the next few days, get out to a natural area near your home for some "dirt time." Look for tracks, sign, migrating birds, early spring ephemerals, or whatever your heart desires.
- Gather around the digital campfire on Sunday afternoon for Stories of the Day.
- Zoom video conference, "Story of the Day: Signs of Spring--Close to Home"
- Sunday, April 19, 4:00pm
- Register in advance with this link
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
|
posted Apr 1, 2020, 3:03 PM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Apr 1, 2020, 3:11 PM
]
It's time for the Cedar Creek Carlos Avery Wildlife Survey!By executive order, Govern Waltz is asking all Minnesotans to stay in our homes through April 10 except to engage in specific activities. These include "outdoor activities," such as "walking, hiking, [...] hunting, or fishing." Or tracking? You bet. Our Spring Cedar Creek Wildlife Survey was scheduled for this coming Saturday, April 4. Well, Cedar Creek is closed, and we all want to maintain social distancing. So I invite you to take part in our first asynchronous tracking club event, the Carlos Avery Wildlife Survey. Here is a quick overview:
Here are all the details:
Carlos Avery: Where To GoThe Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area covers about 24,000 acres to the south and east of Cedar Creek. It is about 2/3 wetland and 1/3 upland and is managed primarily for Deer, Waterfowl and Turkey. Interior roads at Carlos Avery are now closed to motor vehicle traffic in the spring. Walk-in and non-motorized bicycle access is allowed. There are parking areas located all around the perimeter of the Wildlife Management Area. You can download a PDF map that shows parking locations here. Any of the roads or upland habitat at Carlos Avery can offer good opportunities to explore sign. Many of the roads have sections of loose dirt or sand that capture clear tracks. Here are a few specific locations that some of our trackers have suggested: - Pool 23 Trail:
Parking at trailhead. This is a dirt and sand two-track located
just off Viking Blvd. It extends for about a mile though mixed forest
and along wetlands. View here on Google Maps.
- Near the DNR Offices:
Trailheads near parking. From the Carlos Avery WMA Headquarters, you can
cross Broadway Ave and follow the South Rd, which makes a nearly 7 mi
loop. The surface is a mix of gravel, sand and dirt, some of which
should offer good track traps. Old Gamefarm Rd heads north, offering an
out-and-back (or very long loop). View here on Google Maps.
- Swamp Trail: Trailhead is 1.2mi from the nearest parking. From Stonebridge Rd, you can pass through the gate and follow this two-track south. The first quarter mile or so is sand, and often captures a good diversity of tracks. Another quarter mile on, the road passes by a spillway with beaver and otter sign before reaching pine thicket. View here on Google Maps.
- Peaceful Canyon:
Trailhead is 2.4mi from the nearest parking. Though "just" a sandpit, Blake Southard of North Winds Wilderness School
Though tells us he has taught his entire introduction to tracking
course in this spot. It offers great substrate and good animal diversity
and activity. View here on Google Maps.
Hazards, Considerations & Conditions on the GroundTwo-thirds of Carlos Avery is wetland. While the roads are usually well drained, you may encounter deep puddles in some places--especially with rain forecast for the next two days. Plan you footwear accordingly.
Ticks out and Anoka county is considered high-risk areas for tick-born diseases. Please come
prepared and plan to do a thorough tick-check when you get home. Most experts now recommend permethrin treated clothing and a DEET based insect repellent, in addition to daily tick-checks. For
more information on protecting yourself from Lyme disease and other
tick-born illnesses check out this page from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Migrating waterfowl are passing through, and Carlos Avery can be a prime spot for birding. You may want to bring binoculars and think about how to share bird observations on iNaturalist. Maybe time to try digiscoping?
iNaturalist (please read this part)
As most of you know, we use iNaturalist as a
tool for recording and sharing our observations. This platform will be even more valuable for this survey as we get out on our own and make individual observations. If you do not already have an iNaturalist account, you can get one here.
For this survey, our iNaturalist observations are not only a record of what we find, they are also the way we will be able to discuss what we see and get others help with identification and interpretation. Because of this, we will want to document our findings more thoroughly than we may be used to. Here are a few tips:
- When we track, we use clues at multiple spatial scales to help us identify and interpret what we find. Make sure to document multiple scales. A good observation of tracks will include multiple, clear, in-focus photographs of:
- Individual tracks with a ruler for scale
- Groups of tracks, showing enough to clearly interpret the track pattern.
- Context photos showing the habitat and how the animal is using that habitat
- For an excellent example of documenting tracks, see this Facebook post by German naturalist Simone Roters.
- These examples of bobcat, toad and chipmunk tracks on iNaturalist show how to document tracks and trails--but remember to add habitat shots as well.
- When documenting sign, also take multiple, in-focus photographs of the sign at multiple scales, including the habitat. Context is often even more important for sign.
- These examples of squirrel and mouse feeding sing on iNaturalist are great examples of how to document sign.
- In addition to your photographs, include notes about your observation to help others interpret what they see in your photographs. You may want to include measurements of tracks and trail parameters or notes about behavior.
- When photographing tracks, remember these basic tips:
- Make sure the outline of the track is clearly visible. In full sunshine, you may need to shade the track. In flat light, you may need to side-light the track with a flashlight.
- Try different exposures and lighting conditions. You can delete the poor photos later, once you see how things look on a full-sized screen.
- Take photos straight down. Even a slight angle can distort features and apparent size.
- Include a ruler. Even then, your hand won't be the same distance from your lens as the track, distorting the apparent size of the track.
- Use popsicle sticks, sticks, or arrows in the dirt to help point out track patterns if tracks are small or faint in the frame.
- Remember that you can take photographs with any camera and add them to iNaturalist once you are back home. I often take a placeholder observation on my phone and additional photos with a camera to show added detail.
At the end of the weekend, you are invited to join us on a Zoom video conference to share your story of the day, ask and answer questions, and see what others found. We will gather on Sunday afternoon, so everyone will have time to do some of their own research, upload observations, and even get feedback from others on iNaturalists. Many of our team leads will be reviewing observations on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Here are all the details on the gathering
Sunday, April 5, 4:00 PM We recommend registering for the gathering in advance. To register, follow this link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. |
posted Mar 10, 2020, 12:34 PM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Apr 1, 2020, 12:10 PM
]
Due to the current coronavirus outbreak, plans for hosting a CyberTracker Track & Sign evaluation this year are on hold. We have cancelled our Specialist Evaluation, scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend, and are waiting to make a decision about our standard evaluation scheduled for Labor Day Weekend.
Registration is open for our September
evaluation--and we will provide 100% refunds if we cancel the evaluation
due to the pandemic.
About Track & Sign EvaluationsThese two-day long Master Classes in track and sign interpretation are led by some of the finest wildlife tracking instructors in North America. These evaluations are one of the best ways to
speed up your learning process, advance your skills, and help you
gauge your current level of expertise as a tracker. No prior training is required to participate.
Track & Sign Specialist EvaluationSpecialist Evaluations are designed with experienced trackers in mind. Questions focus on the tracks of small or rare species, partial footprints, and indistinct tracks and sign that may require considerable experience to identify. The evaluation is led by two instructors, offering participants more evaluator contact and exposure to an even greater depth of knowledge and perspectives. For the experienced tracker, there is simply no better opportunity to move your skills forward than a Specialist Evaluation.
Cost: $385
On Labor Day weekend, we will host a Standard Track & Sign Evaluation. Standard evaluations are ideal for all levels of trackers, from novice to professional. Questions range from the clearest and most familiar tracks and sign of common animals all the way to obscure sign, partial prints, and the tracks of small or rare species. The evaluator debriefs each question, making sure all the participant don't just know the answer, but understand exactly why that is the answer. The evaluation will be led by Marcus Reynerson.
Cost $275
Registration is open for both evaluations. To register, Contact Us and submit a full payment to Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project. You are registered for an evaluation when we receive your payment. Because of up-front the costs associated with hosting evaluators, registrations are transferable but not refundable. If you are unable to attend an evaluation you have registered for, we may only be able to offer a refund if we can fill your spot.
Mail payment to
Jonathan Poppele 846 Clear Ave St. Paul, MN 55106
Casey McFarland is one of the most senior CyberTracker Evaluators in the US and currently sits as President of CyberTracker North America. He has run over 130 Evaluations in 8 countries and 14 US states and was integral to the establishment CyberTracker Europe. Casey is co-author of the forthcoming Peterson Field Guide to North American Bird Nests (Houghton Mifflin summer 2021) and Bird Feathers: A Guide to North American Species (Stackpole 2010), and a contributing author to Mammal Tracks and Sign: A Guide to North American Species (2nd Ed).
Marcus Reynerson is engaged in telling stories that bring to life the complexity of the ways humans are currently living in the 21st century. He was the Associate Producer of the conservation documentary Last Stand: The Vanishing Caribou Rainforest and a contributing author for Caribou Rainforest by Braided River Press. Born in south Louisiana and raised in Kentucky, Marcus currently lives in the Snoqualmie Valley in Washington State, just east of Seattle where he is the Lead Instructor for an internationally renowned environmental leadership program for adults at the Wilderness Awareness School.
Evaluations will be held in and around Ft. Snelling State Park. Located in a metropolitan are of over 1 million people, Ft. Snelling boasts remarkable wildlife activity and diversity. The Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project hosts our monthly Tracking Club at Ft. Snelling, and have recorded the tracks and sign of over 20 species of mammals there including otter, mink, weasel, skunk, fox, opossum, and at least four species of tree climbing squirrels.
|
posted Feb 24, 2020, 11:19 AM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Apr 1, 2020, 12:41 PM
]
**In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The University of Minnesota has canceled all public events and non-essential research activity at Cedar Creek through the month of May**
**We are cancelling our April 4 survey and look forward to returning to Cedar Creek when the University reopens it for regular research activity**
It's time for the Spring Cedar Creek Wildlife Survey Our
Spring Survey will be an all day affair. We will head out in teams to
survey the roads and trails for animal tracks, 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. In past years, conditions during our spring surveys have ranged from completely bare ground to several inches of fresh snow. Either way, Cedar Creek offers great substrate for getting a window into the lives of the wildlife living on the reserve. With the bison enclosure still vacant for the season, we have a broader
range of places we can roam. Who knows what we will find? Here is the
schedule for the day: 9:00am Gathering at Lindman Center
9:30am Tracking teams leave for the field
~3:00pm Return from the field for sharing, mapping and debriefing
4:30pm Complete
Bring
your own lunches and snacks. Weather permitting, some teams may eat
lunch in the field.
Cedar Creek will provide coffee and snacks in the morning.
Trackers,
naturalists and enthusiasts of all levels are welcome to take part in
our surveys--and having some experience with track and sign
interpretation is definitely helpful. If you are new to wildlife
tracking and would like to learn a bit about it before joining us for a
survey, join us for Tracking Club on March 15 at Ft. Snelling State Park. Get all the details here.
Use this link to add the event to a Google Calendar.
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 Questions
In
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 sightings verified by
Cedar Creek's new network of trail cameras. And the more we learn about
this landscape, the more questions arise. Some of the questions that
came up after our winter survey include: - The deer population seemed to spike this winter, perhaps in response to a large mast crop of acorns. How did this influx of large herbivores affect other wildlife? Has there been more food on the landscape for scavengers than in a typical winter? Has this affected the movements of the foxes,
coyote and fisher? Will it have an impact on the black bear's behavior
as they come out of hibernation?
- Have the deer dispersed now that other food is available in the surrounding landscape? Might this dispersal affect the wolf's behavior? Or that of the scavengers?
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 Creek
Cedar
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.eduThe 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 hereCedar Creek Ecosystem Science ReserveCedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve |
posted Feb 24, 2020, 10:32 AM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Feb 24, 2020, 2:17 PM
]
Come join us for our next Tracking Club at Ft. Snelling State Park:
Sunday, March 15
9:00am - 1:00pm
We will gather at the Ft. Snelling State Park visitor center:
Ft. Snelling State Park
101 Snelling Lake Rd
West St Paul, MN 55111
The sun is climbing higher in the sky, the snow is melting, and the Spring Equinox is just around the corner. How are the animals shifting their behavior as warm weather returns? Have the woodchuck come out of hibernation? Are the deer finding early spring growth to feed on? We will head out onto the landscape and look for signs of spring.
This is an all-weather event and we spend time off trail. Please bring appropriate footwear and dress for several hours outdoors in whatever weather we may have that day.We
will gather at 9:00 in the fireplace room in the Visitor Center. We
will head out on the trail about 9:20 and return to the visitor center
about noon to wrap-up and share stories. If you need
to reach us the day of the outing, please call Jon's cell phone at
612-388-4700.
Note that you need a State Park pass to drive to
the Visitor Center, but you can park for free at the Historic Fort
Snelling visitor center. It is about a half-mile walk past the historic
fort and down the hill to get to the State Park visitor center. The
Historic Fort parking is located at 200 Tower Ave, St Paul, MN 55111
RSVPs are encouraged, but not required. |
posted Feb 24, 2020, 8:44 AM by Jonathan Poppele
[
updated Feb 24, 2020, 8:44 AM
]
This
month's trailing practice will once again be at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. Our plan is to look for carnivore trails to follow.
As we know from our wildlife tracking surveys, Cedar Creek supports a diversity of carnivores including coyotes,
foxes, fisher and, at least some of the time, a wolf. If snow conditions
are favorable, we will follow fresh carnivore trails to get a sense of how the animal is using the landscape. Saturday, March 14 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
We will meet in Lindeman Lab
Cedar
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. Laying at the boundary between prairie and forest, Cedar
Creek 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.
This is an all-weather event and we spend time off trail, perhaps literally walking on thin ice. Please bring appropriate gear and dress for
several hours outdoors in whatever weather we may have that day.
We
will gather at 9:00 at Lindeman Lab do our
welcomes and get organized before heading out on the trail. If you need to reach us the day of the
outing, please call Jon's cell at 612-388-4700. Please note that cell
reception may be spotty and I will have my phone on silent once we are on a trail.
For a map & directions to Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, click hereCedar Creek Ecosystem Science ReserveCedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve |
|
Scavenger Hunt June 2020.pdf
