The Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project hosted its second Practice Assessment the weekend of April 6-7. Ten people from Minnesota and Wisconsin participated in this CyberTracker style "mock evaluation" at sites around Mississippi Gateway Regional Park and Fort Snelling State Park. Participants answered 56 questions covering 13 species of mammals, 5 species of birds, and 1 abiotic process; half of the questions focused on identification and interpretation of tracks. 

Highlights included fresh squirrel tapping sign on silver maple, a freshly visited fox excavation under a cottonwood with accompanying cottontail skull, and examining the fur-filled paws of a deceased red fox. All participants commented that the Practice Assessment was helpful; those taking the May Certification with Daniel Hansche identified areas for additional study over the next six weeks. Everyone walked away with profound appreciation for how animals, plants, land, and waters interact and shape one another, and transform the people who seek to know their stories.

We look forward to hosting the next Practice Assessment the weekend of August 2-3, 2025, with facilitators Bill Kass, Maria Wesserle, and Jonathan Poppele. Applications are now open for the August practice assessment. Click here to learn more and apply.