Ventura Tracker Certification 11/11/2021

On November 10 & 11, I conducted a Track and Sign Certification for the Ventura County Wildlife Trackers in Southern California.

We saw the tracks of 32 species, including 22 mammals, 7 birds, 1 herps, and some incredible marks left in the mud from freezing weather. We spent the first day at an amazing spot in the Los Padres National Forest. The tracking conditions were incredible. Among many others, we we saw beautiful tracks of a black bear, great-horned owl, western gray squirrel, chipmunk, and a spot where a burrowing owl landed on a roadrunner trail! The tracking was so good that despite the long drive, the group decided to spend day 2 there as well. See the photos below. Thank you to Jon Poppele for sharing some of your photos.

A big thanks to Wyatt Harris for organizing this certification. I also want to thank Jon Poppele, Jenny Fitzgerald, and Ellie Bolas for assisting.