Discovering Wildlife Tracks and Signs – 12/11/2022

This introductory course is a great place to start for those looking to improve their ability to identify a range of wildlife tracks and signs encountered in rural and urban areas and even gardens. Learn this valuable skill for anyone with an interest in natural history and conservation.

Wildlife tracking is an ancient science and art – one that humans once relied upon for survival. Learning to read the clues that animals leave behind helps us to understand more about the animals around us and even find the animal itself.

During this course, you will learn skills to confidently identify a variety of mammal and bird activities and some of the fundamentals of reading them. We will cover some of the key categories of tracks and signs, including footprints, feeding signs, homes, droppings and many more. There will be some classroom presentations and opportunities to take a closer look at examples of various signs. You will also have plenty of time to explore outdoors to put your newfound knowledge into practice, leaving you with a solid introduction to the world of tracking. Tracks and signs can help us become aware of the presence of animals that might otherwise be hard to spot. With practice, these skills can also help anyone to provide valuable biological records, which are important for wildlife conservation. They can also help enrich our understanding and enjoyment of the wildlife around us and its place within the wider ecosystem.

Location: Dounans Centre, Aberfoyle, Stirling, Scotland, FK8 3UT 
Dounans is set in the heart of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The Centre has a wealth of natural resources on its doorstep and is perfect for education, exploration and adventure!

PLEASE NOTE the course fee is for tuition only. There are no accommodation, refreshment, or evening meal facilities available with this course

Bookings will close if course capacity is reached

This course is suited to anyone with an interest in natural history. Tracking encourages us to pay attention to close-up details as well as the ecosystem as a whole.

Who Should Attend?

Nature enthusiasts, Students, Early career ecologists, Citizen scientists, Volunteer surveyors, Land managers

Knowledge Level

Introductory. Level descriptors can be found on the following webpage: Framework and Course Level Descriptors

Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge is required, though those with previous experience would still benefit as the tutor is open to answering a range of questions at different levels.

What will be covered during this course?

• • Introduction to mammal and bird foot morphology and how that relates to the tracks we find in the field and helps us identify the trackmaker.
  • The value of learning to read animal tracks and signs.
  • How to recognise some of the more frequently encountered animal tracks and signs.
  • The tools and methods of analysis that will enable you to continue learning about animal tracks and signs.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• • Understand the role tracking has played, past and present.
  • Describe mammalian and bird foot morphology and identify some common tracks.
  • Identify and recognise the main kinds of track and signs.
  • Understand some of the key techniques for identifying and interpreting tracks and signs including master listing.
  • Share this knowledge with friends, family, and fellow volunteers

This is a place-based training course from the Field Studies Council, including a balance of classroom-led learning to impart important knowledge and irreplaceable hands-on outdoor learning opportunities to give individuals skills and confidence. After attending this course, you may like to progress your learning within wildlife tracking with further relevant courses or branch out into other areas of environmental skills. The Field Studies Council offers both online and in person courses, so you can choose the learning style that suits you best.

The course gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new subject and acquire novel skills. Our fantastic tutor will combine the use of classroom-led learning and outside learning opportunities to give individuals the skills and confidence to progress their learning.

• • See the ‘Example Timetable’ and ‘What’s Included’ sections below for more information about this course.
  • Upon booking you will need to provide individual details of all attendees
  • Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Group Bookings Made Easy

If you have a group of 10 or more individuals wanting to complete one of our courses, our team are available to discuss your options – from discounts to private team courses.

• • Discounted rates
  • Privately run courses for your group
  • Bespoke courses developed specifically for your needs

Click here to find out more

If we are unable to reach viable numbers for this course, we will inform you of the course cancellation 14 days prior to the course run. We would recommend when purchasing accommodation and/or travel you should take out your own insurance.

Sorry this course booking is closed