Wildlife Tracking and Trailing
Wildlife Tracking & Trailing: greeting the world with curiosity
Being a Tracker is so much more than just looking at tracks on the ground. It is about understanding and interpreting animal behavior, developing empathy for the more-than-human world, and embedding ourselves within the story of the living landscape. Wildlife tracking invites us to slow down, expand our sensory perception, and notice and greet the world with curiosity, wonder and awe.
“Tracking, it turns out, is nothing less than a paradigm: an ecological way of knowing, a green hermeneutics. It is not just a way of seeing ‘how things are connected,’ it is a discipline that redefines and expands what connection and relationship even is..”
- From Sinopoulos-Lloyd, Sophia. “Tracking as a Way of Knowing.”
Why it matters.
Chances are, at least one of your ancestors was an amazing tracker; it’s what has got you here today!
Develop relationships
Wildlife tracking is described as being both an art and a science. Our classes focus both on the practical and authentic skill development of tracking, as well as leaving space for the wonder, curiosity, and connection that inevitably arises from practicing this ancient skill.
Interpret the landscape
Wildlife trailing is that extra step on the journey. It involves combining all the knowledge of tracking to learn how to interpret the landscape and the behavior of the animals you wish to follow and hopefully see! In Ireland, deer are the animals we are most able to successfully trail.
CyberTracker evaluations
We host CyberTracker Track & Sign and Trailing evaluations in Ireland with one of Europe’s leading trackers, John Rhyder of the Woodcraft School.
“Stalking allows people to drop their everyday personae until the forest no longer realizes that they’re there. When you become the forest, when you’re silent inwardly and outwardly, the forest starts to wake up, to move. It’s amazing what can happen”
– Paul Rezendes, The Wild Within
We are delighted to welcome John Rhyder of the Woodcraft School to North west Donegal this winter for a two day trailing workshop.
John Rhyder is the only senior tracker in Northern Europe having scored 100% in both track and sign and trailing in specialist evaluations, the highest assessed level possible in the CyberTracker system. John is also an evaluator for the CyberTracker system.
Trailing Workshop
Duration Two Days
This workshop will cover the techniques needed to trail or follow an animal in the wild, we are aiming this programme at anyone wanting to get closer to wildlife but are also planning this it as preparation for those who may be unsure of what trailing involves and would like to try before signing up for a longer programme. It is also useful for anyone interested in taking a CyberTracker trailing evaluation. The learning outcomes therefore follow the assessment criteria of the evaluation covering in detail the elements of spoor recognition, spoor anticipation, anticipation of dangerous situations, alertness and stealth with each of these main headings further broken down into sub categories leading too what we we believe is a most in-depth and thorough trailing criteria.
The course is not heavily theory based and we will be on the trails as soon as practically possible during the programme. We will stay on these trails for as long as we can throughout each day with candidates rotating to take a turn at point. Even when not in the lead a great deal can be learned from watching from behind. Tuition is given throughout, towards the end of the second day it is hoped that we will be in a position to put the criteria taught in place and try to approach animals. Essentially we will stop talking and see how close we can get to the deer.
We prefer to teach trailing in a realistic scenario and so after a fairly brief introduction the course will take place entirely on the trail. We tend to focus on ungulates usually red deer, to maximise our chances of trailing to a satisfactory conclusion. To maximise the success of this course it is limited to a small group size of 5 people.
Where?
We will be in the diverse surroundings of Ards Forest Park, Northwest Donegal which will allow us to follow deer uninterrupted across long distances. We will be outside for the entirety of the two days so please be sure to dress appropriately for all weathers.
Accomodation
There is no accommodation offered as part of this course but there are plenty of local rental accommodations and hotels. This course is entirely self-catered. Accommodation is available at Ards Friary. Please contact them directly to book.
When?
8th & 9th November
9am - 4.30pm each day
Cost
€225
Who’s it for?
Wildlife trailing is an ancient skill with diverse applications. Outdoor enthusiasts,Naturalists, Wildlife conservationists, Forest School guides, Bushcraft practitioners, Poets, Artists and Storytellers will all find something of great depth in this process.
Spaces limited to five people.