Wildlife Tracking on Snowshoes

nowy prints left behind by winter wildlife can reveal far more than most people know. Was the animal running or walking? Was it hunting? Injured? Pregnant? What other animals was it interacting with? Instructor Chris Byrd will reveal the hidden world of animals by teaching basic tracking skills near Silver Fir Campground on the Mt Baker Highway. This ecotone includes mature conifer forest and wetlands. He'll cover identification of genus and species so we know who's out there, gait interpretation so we understand what was happening, how to age the tracks so we have a sense of time, and behavior to add nuance to the story that emerges. Participants need to bring snowshoes and poles and each vehicle needs a Sno-Park parking pass as we will be walking on a snowy (but flat) Forest Service road. Winter road conditions increase the risk associated with driving so please assess your comfort level and vehicle’s ability to navigate potentially snowy terrain (road is regularly plowed). Please call our main office if you have any questions or concerns!