The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is offering a free webinar this afternoon for those who are curious about what exactly are those tracks that they're seeing in the snow, on the trails or in their own backyards!
The free webinar takes place today, March 19th at 3:30 pm CT to teach the art of animal tracking.
"The intent is to help inform people about different animals, whether it's squirrels, domestic dogs, coyotes, bears, or any other species you might encounter in your neighborhood, on your favorite trails, or in the woods," says Andrew Holland, national Media Relations Director for the NCC. How do you know what species it is?
"This webinar will help everyone, whether you're an expert, an outdoors enthusiast, a nature lover, or a beginner. It will teach you how to identify the patterns and tracks of various animals, such as deer, lynx, coyotes, and more, " he adds.
The interactive webinar will feature insights from two experienced wildlife trackers:
- Aerin Jacob – Director of science and research at the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Jacob has been tracking animals for years, both for work and for fun. Her PhD research involved animal tracking, and she continues to advise governments and philanthropic groups on species at risk, scientific research and conservation planning. Jacob is also an adjunct professor at the University of Northern British Columbia, has a PhD in biology from McGill University and post-doctoral research at the University of Victoria.
- Joseph Litke – Wildlife biologist, hiking guide and track and sign professional, Litke is the co-founder of Fiera Biological Consulting, an Edmonton-based conservation consulting firm. He has extensive experience exploring western Canada's landscapes and leads tracking-based conservation programs and workshops with conservation professionals and the public.
"They'll answer questions in the chat or questions submitted in advance by people who register," explains Holland. "The beauty of this is that whoever registers will get a free kit, which includes a catalog of how to identify animal tracks. This will become an animal tracking detective guide that people can use on their own, whether they're going out looking for animals or tracking species, locations, dates, and times."
Holland says the guide includes information on what different animals' tracks and gaits look like, such as squirrels, deer, and other animals.
"It's a really cool guide that people can use to identify various animals. For example, bears are found in most parts of the country and are known to stomp repeatedly in the same footsteps to leave a scent. Each foot of a bear has five toes that register forward, so you can see their footprints clearly. It's fascinating to see how animals move and leave their marks in the wild. This guide will help people become animal tracking detectives and learn more about the wildlife around them."
To register for the free webinar taking place this afternoon, please visit their website HERE!
photo credits:
River Otter prints - photo by Jennifer Sullivan - Nature Conservancy of Canada
Turtle tracks - Photo by Megan Bonenfant - Nature Conservancy of Canada
Animal tracks - Waterton Park Front - photo Sean Feagan - Nature Conservancy of Canada