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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.
