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Northeast Wildlife Trackers Conference Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, Westborough, MAOctober 20, 2018Keynote9:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.Lifelong Learning as a Wildlife TrackerDan Gardoqui, co-founder & Executive Director of White Pine ProgramsFor the past 30 years, I've either been a student or teacher of?tracking...often both. In this presentation I’ll share stories & reflections on:?tracking?fails & dysfunctions; best practices of?trackers?& mentors; putting the need back in?tracking; and suggested directions for the future of wildlife?tracking. Plenary Sessions10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.The Real Eastern Coyote (No Alternative Facts!)Christine Schadler, Project Coyote & New Hampshire Wildlife CoalitionThe coyote is our native song dog but here in the Northeast, how do we define it? A true coyote? A coy-wolf? Its hybrid nature – a wild dog combining traits of all three – is a genetic puzzle. How it hunts, births, defends territory or operates solo, all within our very human landscape and mostly out of our view, renders it an enigma. To some, it’s a mystery and to others, a nightmare. How can we ever adjust to such a wild and invincible creature?11:20 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.Where do you put the camera?Janet Pesaturo, Winterberry Wildlife“How do you know where to put the camera?” That’s the question everyone asks. Camera trapping (capturing photos or videos of animals with a remote, motion sensitive camera) allows us to see things we can only imagine through tracking. Success with the camera relies on good tracking skills, as well as knowledge of the animal’s habits and habitat. This presentation will provide guidance on how to use tracking skills and knowledge of animal behavior to find those sweet spots for camera placement when targeting specific species and? introduce Janet’s new book, "Camera Trapping Guide: Tracks, Sign, and Behavior of Eastern Wildlife".Concurrent Session I1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.‘Eco-tracking’-- using sign to learn about the secret life of wild animalsDavid Brown, David Brown’s Wildlife ServicesAfter finding and identifying wildlife evidence, the next step in the process of ‘eco-tracking’ is to interpret this sign for insight into the hidden life of the tracked animal. What was it doing and why was it here? Answering these questions requires close attention to details of the evidence as well as of the context in which it is found. In a sense the tracker becomes, as in CSI, a ‘forensic ecologist’, building up a picture of a past event from often inconspicuous evidence. From this picture he or she can achieve an inside perspective of the animal’s life and a more intimate relationship with our natural context.The Hot TrailNate Harvey, Trackers Trail, LLCHow do we recognize that the trail we’re following is hot? That the animal might be close? In this session, CyberTracker evaluator, Nate Harvey, tells stories of trailing specialists.Tracking the Two-legged WildlifeRob Speiden, Natural Awareness Tracking SchoolThis presentation will provide an in-depth glimpse of tracking humans…the other wildlife. Rob will discuss law enforcement and search and rescue tracking cases. These and other uses will highlight how tracking people can benefit you and your community.Thinking Outside the Box with WhitetailsRay Hardy, Bolton Wildlife AdvocacyRay will discuss various experiences during his 35 year study of a local white-tailed deer population. During this time he has incorporated various indigenous practices including music, bird language studies, herbal lures as well as dream work. Ray’s intent has been to learn to interact with white tails beyond strictly observing. Please bring your stories!Apps and Maps for Wildlife TrackingCary Chadwick & Jesse RubensteinEducators from the University of Connecticut’s Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) will provide a detailed overview of several useful, free or low-cost smartphone apps for field data collection and wildlife tracking. The presentation will include live demonstration of these apps and discussion of how they can be used for field mapping, tracking and related applications. Presenters encourage audience participation. Apps showcased will include Track Kit and Epicollect5 (both available for iOS and Android devices). The presentation will also include discussion of how smartphone data can be combined and displayed with environmental data online so that trackers can record, organize, and analyze time in the field. Making Tracking Fun: Mentoring Tips & Tricks for Tracking TeachersTrevanna Frost Grenfell, The Wildwood PathWhether working with kids or adults, individuals or groups, novices or experienced trackers—tracking can be intimidating, dry, and confusing OR accessible, engaging, and exciting. In order for the art of tracking to thrive in our culture, and in order to generate interest in tracking with a diverse audience, we need to practice and share how to inspire our tracking students. This workshop will focus on how to teach tracking in creative and effective ways so that our circle of tracking enthusiasts, students, experts, and teachers expands over time.Concurrent Session II2:35 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.Interpreting Bear SignDavid Brown, David Brown’s Wildlife ServicesIn addition to a discussion of basic track morphology, this program will survey the various kinds of evidence that black bears leave behind that can be used to gain insight into the animal’s life and relationship with its environment. These will include various scats, feeding and marking sign and other bear evidence. Skull characteristics and how they both enable and limit the behavior of the animal will be discussed. Some examples of interpreting track patterns in order to put the still image of the bear in motion in the mind’s eye will be included. Anecdotes from David Brown’s many years of tracking bears in the New England woods will also be included.Exploring the Landscapes: Inner Tracking/Outer TrackingCharles Perakis, DOThis will be an experiential session with the moderator (rather than presenter) posing questions to encourage reflection and sharing and processing. For example: What is “inner tracking”? How does it relate to “outer tracking”? What does the “inner” wilderness landscape look like? What are the wild threads that connect everything? How do you find the soul in everything?Keeping Track of our Wild Paths: Citizen Science in Northern VermontNancy Patch, Cold Hollow to Canada RCPCold Hollow to Canada (CHC) sponsors two successful regional citizen science programs that look both at large mammal presence and movement in core habitat, and how these animals move across barriers in the landscape. Tracking skills, crowd sourcing and technology are used to capture species movement in the landscape. The work builds off of science developed at our state agencies and adds to this work through collaboration.Where the Tracks AreLinda SpielmanTracking doesn’t end when the snow melts. It’s all a matter of locating trackable substrates, and these can be found at any time of the year. The best places to look for tracks, and a few interesting finds will be shared. There will also be discussion on how maps can be used to locate likely spots. Then we’ll go outside and check out some possible tracking places in the Wildlife Management Area!Teaching Tracking to the General PublicCollin Adkins, Northeast Wildlife TrackersThe art and science of tracking has many misconceptions that misconstrue the valuable wisdom the practice can provide. This presentation and workshop will break down those misconceptions, understand the demographics of the American general audience, and propose ways to tailor tracking lessons to better serve this audience. After a short presentation, there will be opportunity to explore one or more techniques in a group or individually. This workshop is open to any experience level and background, but may be particularly well-suited to educators, guides, and those who interpret tracking for the general public.The Importance of Tracking, as Understood and Practiced by our Ancestors, now known as the SanElizabeth Marshall ThomasThe San have fabulous observation powers?and methods of hunting, tracking, and running down game antelopes.? Elizabeth will discuss the San’s knowledge of other species, their ability to understand other species, and the ability of other species to understand them. As a grandmother up in New Hampshire, few would see her as one of the very last people still ?living who experienced the lives of our?Homo sapiens?ancestors, living as all people once lived, as hunter-gatherers, a culture they had continued for more than 80,000 years according to an archaeological study, and probably the most successful culture ever. ................
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