When it rains, it pours: Wildlife Field Techniques inaugural class

Participants in the inaugural Wildlife Field Techniques course were instructed to arrive prepared for anything, as the course would run rain-or-shine. The course, hosted at Skalitude Retreat in the foothills above Carlton, WA, would teach students the basic skills required to conduct wildlife field work over the course of four days. Students eagerly packed their rain jackets and traveled from across the mountain west to learn with Home Range, where daily lessons covered data collection principles, track and sign interpretation, remote wildlife cameras, telemetry, and field necropsy for wildlife mortality investigations. Little did they know how much they would be needing their rain jackets!

The weekend began with an afternoon of introductions, discussion of the skills and attributes necessary to be an effective field biologist, and a lesson in field data collection techniques. The day’s lesson was followed by an evening around the bonfire with guest Kent Woodruff, a retired biologist who has spearheaded many of the Methow Valley’s most impactful long-term wildlife projects. We gathered in the Sky Lodge as a storm rolled in to hear Kent's stories, wisdom, and advice over the pounding of rain on the canvas roof. Participants especially enjoyed his candor about beginning a career in wildlife research and the various paths young biologists can take in this field. 

The Sky Lodge where we hosted evening campfires with local wildlife biologists. 

The rain continued into the following day, where the group followed wildlife tracker and photographer David Moskowitz on a hike to find and discuss evidence of wildlife on the landscape. With rain obscuring wildlife footprints, participants were exposed to hard-to-find sign such as scent-marking from black bears, coyotes, and bobcats; many different carnivore scats; black bear and mule deer bedding sites; pocket gopher eskers; squirrel middens; and even some old carcass remains. Although everyone was soaked through their rain gear, the positive attitude of the group made the day a delight. David joined us around the bonfire in the evening for a discussion of creative and alternative ways to build a career in wildlife research.

Course participant Maddy describes her interpretation of the mechanisms used to make two scent-marking scrapes to instructor David Moskowitz

The group learns about black bear scent-marking trees

Students welcomed a break in the weather as we geared up for lessons in deploying remote wildlife cameras and using radio-telemetry to locate VHF collars. The group spent a full day hiking around the Skalitude’s 160-acre campus, choosing locations for camera placement and deploying cameras for wildlife of their choice, as well as working in groups to find hidden collars. Retired USFS biologist, John Rohrer, made a guest appearance at the evening bonfire with a female Northern Pacific Rattlesnake accompanying him. Participants learned about the ecology of rattlesnakes and were able to hold the snake during the discussion.

Participant Abbey describes why she chose this location for her remote camera

Small groups use telemetry to find hidden radio-collars

The group passes around a restrained rattlesnake while learning about their ecology in this region of Washington

On the final day of the course, students learned basic mortality site investigation skills, including how to field necropsy a deer carcass.  Following this morning lesson, students combined each of the skills they learned throughout the course to conduct a mortality site investigation of their own from start to finish. Participants worked in small groups, using telemetry to locate a deer carcass, place a remote camera at the site, interpret the remains to determine the mortality cause, and collect accompanying data. Participants performed necropsies at each of the carcasses and later presented their findings to the entire group. 

One group discusses the characteristics of a typical canid kill-site with instructor Carmen Vanbianchi

Another group discusses their findings from a mock black bear kill-site with the entire class

We were honored to teach this first cohort of Wildlife Field Techniques students. Their impressive positive attitudes, overwhelming interest in learning, and dedication to wildlife conservation were inspiring and give us great hope as they move forward in their careers. We are so grateful to know each participant and are looking forward to following their wildlife journeys!

 

Home Range Wildlife Research would like to thank guest biologists Kent Woodruff and John Rohrer for their willingness to spend time with us; David Moskowitz for guest instructing; Skalitude Retreat and Education Center for hosting our group; and all of our participants for joining and engaging during the course.