Over Memorial Day Weekend, the Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project hosted Daniel Hansche for a Track and Sign Certification. The certification took place at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, and Ft. Snelling State Park. Danial ran our group through questions about the tracks and sign of 14 species of mammals, 8 species of birds, one amphibian, two invertebrates, and three abiotic events. Highlights included a turkey head; mud gathering by cliff swallows; a set of chipmunk tracks next to a set of woodchuck tracks; and muddy cottontail footprints on a cement sidewalk.
Everyone who participate earned a certificate with eight trackers earning Level III, and four trackers achieving new levels. Please join me in sending congratulations to our newly certified trackers:
New Track & Sign I: Ronnie Hartman
New Track & Sign II: Haleigh Ziebol
New Track & Sign IIIs: Whitney Loher, Anthony Ulrich
A also want to send a thank you to Bill and Maria for assisting with the certification.
May 24-25, 2025, Certification Participants (L to R) top row: John Bauhs, Mike Holtz, Bill Kass, Jonathan Poppele, Haleigh Ziebol, Adrian Iacovino, Anthony Ulrich, Daniel Hansche. Bottom row: Ronnie Hartman, Maria Wesserle, Kirsten Welge, Allison Van Dyk, Whitney Loher, Erin Anderson.
Exquisite red fox tracks in mud, showing fur.
Cliff Swallow gathering mud for nest building.
Muddy cottontail footprints on cement.
River otter tracks in soft mud.
Groundhog front and hind track.
Common Grackle track in fine mud.
Eastern chipmunk front and hind track.