61 CWMP 2013-2014 Winter Field Season Report
Wildlife Sign Documentation
It is not uncommon for the carnivores we are working on detecting to leave tracks
or signs of their presence even if they do not trigger our remote camera trap. If
you observe tracks, scat or other signs that maybe of one of our target species
on your way to the camera or at the camera site, use these procedures for
documenting the sign. This information may be useful for refining our camera
trapping effort or as evidence in its own right of the presence of our target
species.
Target Species
CWMP remote camera efforts focus on several different target species around
the Pacific Northwest.
North Cascades and Northeast Washington: wolves, wolverines, grizzly bear,
Canada lynx
Southern and Central Washington Cascades: wolves, wolverines
Interstate 90: Mammals larger than a snowshoe hare. Especially interested in
observations associated with these species in relationship to their use of areas
immediately adjacent to the highway, crossing the interstate or using crossing
structures to travel under the interstate.
Documenting Tracks and Signs
See appendix for diagrams and further instructions.
Stop your companion(s) and bring tracks to their attention. Stop walking to
prevent destroying tracks. Determine if you believe the tracks or sign in question
could possibly be one of our target species. If so, proceed to documenting them.
If not, carry on with your other activities.
Select the clearest tracks for photographs (and measurements). Consider
photographing tracks in a variety of locations if possible. When ambiguous or
unidentifiable tracks are found, the first step is to search the area for better tracks
of the same animal. If there is a trail you can follow, this is one way you may
discover clearer tracks for that individual. In general, look for where the creature
has entered more sheltered areas away from direct sunlight, wind, further
snowfall, or whatever has likely obscured the tracks.
