7
Summary of Trailing Data
There were 11 trailing events recorded this year, with two following ambiguous sign. A pair of
coyotes was recorded using the Gold Creek underpass. No definitive highway crossings at other
sites were detected, though three trailing events recorded animals moving towards and then
away from I–90. The remaining five trailing events did not report activity associated with trying
to cross or enter I–90.
Observer Reliability
This winter we continued to evaluate the observer reliability of our team leaders in snow track
identification. Photographs of tracks positively identified in the field by team leaders were
evaluated by two experts out of the field. Results from this were similar to the previous five
seasons. No definitive errors were identified while it was impossible to confirm or refute the
identification of about 15% of the photos submitted due to the quality of the photographs and
the tracks documented. Over the past 6 years, with the evaluation of over 200 data points, the
project has a definitive error rate of less than 1%. We will be carrying out a full analysis of this
part of the study with results available within the next year.
Additionally, a sample of current and former team leaders participated in a professional
evaluation and certification process for track and sign identification and interpretation through
Cybertracker Conservation International. Eight team leaders were evaluated in January of 2016
