Contents
- Group Assignments
- Trail etiquette
- Snowshoe Suggestions
- Area Mammal List
- City Map
- Field journal
- Sample Field Journal
- Pack list
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Group Assignments Head Tracker
Data recorder or Assessor
Photographer
Scribe
Porterback to contents
- Know your job assignment.
- Stay in line in correct position for job assignment.
- Do your job assignment - don't switch jobs.
- Stay back enough so you don't step on the snowshoes of the person in front of you.
- Make semi-circle around print or track.
- Participate in discussion (go through suggestions for notes and habitat).
- Wait until scribe has finished writing.
- Get back in correct line position.
- Move forward until head tracker indicates another sighting.
- Listen to your adult supervisor at all times.
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- Make sure snowshoes are laced correctly.
- Know how to put on your own snowshoes - practice in room.
- Make sure the buckles are on the outside so you don't trip on the extra laces.
- Use the same boots each trip and know where to put the heel strap on them.
- Tighten the heel strap so that it can't slip off.
- Number the snowshoes and keep your assigned snowshoes at all times.
- Do not drag snowshoes on the ground when carrying them.
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short tailed weasel long tailed weasel striped skunk fisher river otter raccoon opossum muskrat beaver porcupine black bear mink marten badger
Bounding animals:
cottontail rabbit snowshoe hare deer mouse field mouse shrews red squirrel gray squirrel flying squirrel woodchuck eastern chipmunk back to contents
If you become very serious about tracking, you will want to begin keeping records and notes of what you see when you are out in the field. Standing out in the cold writing notes will take some discipline on your part, but you won't remember details unless they are written down.
We have included a sample of our class field journal. The journal is divided into three sections: mammal, habitat, and notes. You will find suggestions for filling out the habitat and note sections on this page and the list of local mammals. None of the lists are inclusive, so feel free to add or subtract from them.
Possible Habitats:
wetland or upland
hardwoods (maple, etc.)
aspen/birch
open field
downtown
residential
upland pines
mixed lowland conifers (balsam, tamarack, spruce)
marsh
riparian fringe (near lake, stream, wetland)
alley
yard with plants
old field
trees: conifers or deciduous
Notes: Why is the animal here and what is it doing here? (Looking for food, cover, mates)
Look for:
- (1) print pattern: number of toes
claws: yes or no
print shape, size- (2) track pattern and gaits
- (3) measurements: stride, straddle, size of print
- (4) spoor (any animal signs)
behavior: feeding, digging, scat, chewing
abundance: one, several, many
Basic identification hints:
make drawings of prints or patterns, include measurements
collect scat, twigs, branches, etc. for further study.back to contents
SAMPLE FIELD JOURNAL Date ______________ Site _________________________ Page _____
Start Time _________ Stop Time __________
Observers or Group Name ______________________________________
Air Temperature _____ Hours since last snow _____ Depth of snow ________
Description of last snow -- dry powder -- crust -- heavy wet -- melted
MAMMAL HABITAT NOTES
__________|___________|__________________________________________________|___________|________________________________________
__________|___________|________________________________________
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Book bag
Plaster of Paris
Thermos for water
Plastic container for mixing plaster
Paint stick
Pocket size dichotomous track guide
Field journal
Pen or pencils
Thermometer
Anemometer
Camera
Ruler, tape measure, caliper
Snow waxback to contents
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