| David Brown's Wildlife Services 12 Hotel Road Warwick, MA 01378 Tel: 978 544 8175 E-mail: info@dbwildlife.com |
| Interpretive programs * Wildlife inventories * Docent training Wildlife education planning |
| General Services |
Tracker-naturalist David Brown provides several services focused on New
England wildlife. These include:
England wildlife. These include:
- Interpretive programs, including animal tracking and bird programs
- Wildlife inventories, including both mammal tracking and bird surveys
- Docent training of interpretive walk leaders
- Wildlife education planning for organizations
Interpretive programs are mainly centered on animal
tracking, but seasonal bird programs are also provided,
mainly during spring migration and again during the fall
hawk movement.
"Eco-tracking" Although animal tracking programs begin
with identification, an effort is made to expand on this into
the area of "eco-tracking" by using an animal's tracks, trails
and other sign to interpret its relationship with the habitat in
which it is found.
Costs for sponsoring organizations can be obtained by
phone or e-mail
tracking, but seasonal bird programs are also provided,
mainly during spring migration and again during the fall
hawk movement.
"Eco-tracking" Although animal tracking programs begin
with identification, an effort is made to expand on this into
the area of "eco-tracking" by using an animal's tracks, trails
and other sign to interpret its relationship with the habitat in
which it is found.
Costs for sponsoring organizations can be obtained by
phone or e-mail
David Brown points out bobcat sign in a
porcupine runway. Photo Bart DeWolf.
porcupine runway. Photo Bart DeWolf.
Wildlife inventories are provided for private landowners and stewards of
public land to help them determine the wildlife content and value of their
property. Two types are offered:
Cost varies with size and diversity of area. Estimates can be obtained by phone
or e-mail.
public land to help them determine the wildlife content and value of their
property. Two types are offered:
- Mammal tracking surveys
- Breeding bird surveys
Cost varies with size and diversity of area. Estimates can be obtained by phone
or e-mail.
Docent training is provided to organizations such as land trusts, friends groups
and sanctuary staff for the benefit of volunteers who lead interpretive walks in
natural areas.
The method. Typically docents meet once a week for a season to familiarize
themselves with the natural history of their area and to practice skills such as
dealing with the public, giving short presentations, finding their way in the woods
and dealing with emergencies.
Cost varies with the length of training desired. Call or e-mail for an estimate.
and sanctuary staff for the benefit of volunteers who lead interpretive walks in
natural areas.
The method. Typically docents meet once a week for a season to familiarize
themselves with the natural history of their area and to practice skills such as
dealing with the public, giving short presentations, finding their way in the woods
and dealing with emergencies.
Cost varies with the length of training desired. Call or e-mail for an estimate.
A docent class examines
tracks in mud at Alewife
Reservation
tracks in mud at Alewife
Reservation
Wildlife education planning is provided to conservation organizations, land
trusts, state parks and others who need a plan for educating the public about the
wildlife content of their lands. The area to be used is reconnoitered in detail and a
report is prepared that contains a general natural inventory and recommendations
on appropriate educational activities, siting facilities, design of curricula, and so
forth.
Cost varies with acreage, complexity of project and level of detail desired. Call or
e-mail for an estimate.
trusts, state parks and others who need a plan for educating the public about the
wildlife content of their lands. The area to be used is reconnoitered in detail and a
report is prepared that contains a general natural inventory and recommendations
on appropriate educational activities, siting facilities, design of curricula, and so
forth.
Cost varies with acreage, complexity of project and level of detail desired. Call or
e-mail for an estimate.
Solution to the Tracking Problem on the
Encounters page:
1. Since the front feet bear the weight of the heaviest part of
the animal's body, the front print will be deeper than the
hind. This will be the case with any mammal whose front and
hind feet are more or less the same size. In such cases the
toes will usually splay more on the front than on the hind, as
well. Finally, the structure of the hind foot of most
quadrupeds forces the toes deeper than the secondary pad.
This is easily seen in the upper right print which is toed
down, with the secondary pad just barely disturbing the
surface.
2.Most identifications are made on the basis of the sum of
the evidence rather than on one or two details. First of all,
prints with a symmetrical arrangement of pads and a central
pyramid of negative space generally denote a canid. With
this in mind, notice next the relative shapes of the two prints:
a combination of a round front print and a long hind is a
tip-off for gray fox. This identification is supported by the
near absence of nail marks (gray foxes have retractable
claws like a cat) and by the shape of the posterior edge of
Encounters page:
1. Since the front feet bear the weight of the heaviest part of
the animal's body, the front print will be deeper than the
hind. This will be the case with any mammal whose front and
hind feet are more or less the same size. In such cases the
toes will usually splay more on the front than on the hind, as
well. Finally, the structure of the hind foot of most
quadrupeds forces the toes deeper than the secondary pad.
This is easily seen in the upper right print which is toed
down, with the secondary pad just barely disturbing the
surface.
2.Most identifications are made on the basis of the sum of
the evidence rather than on one or two details. First of all,
prints with a symmetrical arrangement of pads and a central
pyramid of negative space generally denote a canid. With
this in mind, notice next the relative shapes of the two prints:
a combination of a round front print and a long hind is a
tip-off for gray fox. This identification is supported by the
near absence of nail marks (gray foxes have retractable
claws like a cat) and by the shape of the posterior edge of
the secondary pad on the hind print. This "winged ball" effect is clear on the hind print but disguised by
the deeper impression of this pad on the front foot, which has been subject to more distortion by gravity.
3. A line of prints with two single registrations (SR) apiece arranged on a repeating diagonal is made by a
displaced trotting gait, where the animal displaces its spine at an angle relative to the direction of travel.
This allows the hind foot to pass by the front without being raised very far off the ground, an efficiency
which, repeated thousands of times a day, results in a substantial energy saving.
4. The speed of any gait is determined by the distance between front and hind prints on the same side of
the animal. In this case the fox was moving at a moderate trot.
5. A line of displaced trotting patterns along a hiking trail shows that the animal was travel-hunting, the
usual occupation associated with this gait.
the deeper impression of this pad on the front foot, which has been subject to more distortion by gravity.
3. A line of prints with two single registrations (SR) apiece arranged on a repeating diagonal is made by a
displaced trotting gait, where the animal displaces its spine at an angle relative to the direction of travel.
This allows the hind foot to pass by the front without being raised very far off the ground, an efficiency
which, repeated thousands of times a day, results in a substantial energy saving.
4. The speed of any gait is determined by the distance between front and hind prints on the same side of
the animal. In this case the fox was moving at a moderate trot.
5. A line of displaced trotting patterns along a hiking trail shows that the animal was travel-hunting, the
usual occupation associated with this gait.