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Over the weekend of September 7-8, the Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project hosted Jonah Evans for a Track and Sign Certification. The entire certification took place at two locations on Picnic Island in Ft. Snelling State Park. Within the space of just a few hundred meters, Jonah ran our group through questions about the tracks and sign of 13 species of mammals (including human), 8 species of birds, two herps, two invertebrates, and one abiotic event. Highlights from the certification included the tracks of a deer with a goofy foot; owl tracks; the trail of a juvenile beaver; and an exquisite set of White Pelican tracks.
Check out Jonah's blog post about the certification, including photos of most of the questions, here on his website.
Everyone who participate earned a certificate with eight trackers earning Level III, and three trackers achieving new levels. Please join me in sending congratulations to our newly certified trackers:
New Track & Sign II: Gregory Schayes
New Track & Sign IIIs: Erin Anderson, Rachel Putnam
A also want to send a thank you to Alison for assisting with the certification, and to Maria for both assisting and for discovering the owl tracks and snapping turtle tracks for us to all enjoy.
September 7-8, 2024 Certification Participants (L to R): Allison Van Dyk, Erin Anderson, Greg Schayes, Rachel Putnam, Anthony Ulrich, Adrian Iacovino, John Bauhs, Jonah Evans, Mike Holtz, Kirsten Welge, Mark Fulton, Jason Askins, Eric Vehe, Maria Wesserle. (Jonathan Poppele stood behind the camera.)
Exquisite totipalmate tracks of an American White Pelican.
A platform of logs and sticks built across deep, soft mud to give participants access to the pelican tracks. Thanks to the crew that came to scout on Friday--bet you didn't know you would be building infrastructure!
The zygodactyl tracks of a large owl--most likely a Great Horned Owl.
Jonah debriefing the right-front track of a gray squirrel--with reminders in the background that we are in an urban park, surrounded by development.
Beaver chew marks at the base of a tree.
Snapping turtle tracks, mixed in with tracks of raccoon and muskrat.
Debriefing the tracks of a whitetail that ducked under an overhanging tree while in a full gallop.
Jon & Jonah discussing snapping turtle tracks before the debrief.
Wood Duck tracks on the shore of the Minnesota River.
The distinctive right-hind track of "Goofy-Foot." This particular deer's tracks featured in both the final question on Day 1, and the first question on Day 2.
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