Wildlife Techniques (EFB 496)

Meeting times

 

This is a 2-week intensive course based at the Cranberry Lake
Biological Station in the Adirondack Park.  The course takes
place during the last week of June and first week of July.

 

Course Intent and Organization

 

 This course provides ‘hands on’ experience with field
techniques commonly employed by professional biologists to
monitor wildlife populations.  The first week will be focused
primarily on mammals (with Dr. Frair) and the second week will
focus primarily on birds (with Dr. Shriver). 

During this course students will:

 

· learn about the ethical care and use of wildlife in field studies

· learn and apply proper techniques for capturing and handling
     a variety of wild animals

· identify Adirondack mammals and birds by sight, sign, and
     vocalizations

· monitor wildlife populations using various survey techniques

· learn how to use radio-telemetry to monitor animal activity

· conduct field assessments of habitat quality

 

 Actual activities conducted vary by year depending upon
active research programs.  In the past students have
participated in a radio-telemetry study of white-tailed deer,
mark-recapture study of Canada geese, genetic study of
black bear populations, American marten population study,
and small mammal population studies.  Additional activities
include mist-netting birds, chemical immobilization of wildlife,

detecting species from their tracks, aging deer by patterns of

tooth eruption and wear, drive surveys, double-counting
surveys, wildlife radio-telemetry, and evaluating the carrying
capacity of the Cranberry Lake Biological Station for moose. 

 

Note To Prospective Students

 

 To enroll in this class you must sign-up during the standard

enrollment period for the general CLBS program.  THIS CLASS
FILLS UP FAST!!!!  Don’t delay, get in line early and lock in
your space. 

 

Required Materials 

 

 There are no required texts or materials for this course. 
However, any aspiring wildlife biologist should have in their
possession a series of field guides—particularly useful for this
class are guides to the “North American Mammals” and
“Scats and Tracks of the Northeast”.  Also, students should come prepared to spend long hours hiking outdoors under inclement weather conditions.  See the notes and links below to help you prepare. 

 

Dressing for the field

 

 Wildlife field work is rigorous, often requiring long hours of hiking over unstable terrain, up and down mountains, through dense and wet vegetation.  Work too often occurs under inclement weather conditions, starting early and ending late at night.   All the while, you might be carrying heavy or expensive (and not waterproof) field equipment.  Being able to conduct your work effectively, be safe in the field, and remain comfortable under these conditions requires proper equipment, which starts with your clothing.  Sturdy footwear (waterproof boots, not sandals) are an absolute must.  And your attire and personal gear also must accommodate potentially extreme changes in temperature or weather.   It is important that you dress appropriately, this indicates you are professional and serious about your work and gives you street credibility when it comes to wildlife field jobs down the road!

 

 For this course, every day you will:

 

 1.  Be wearing long pants and hiking boots.

 2.  Have a waterproof jacket (and maybe pants).

 3.  Have a daypack to carry your personal items and field gear.

 

 Most of the time, you will be comfortable in lightweight, synthetic hiking pants (quick-drying nylon is recommended).   Long-sleeve shirts are useful (especially for bug and sun protection), but not required.  Cotton is generally undesirable (for shirts, pants, and underclothes) because it holds moisture, gets uncomfortable quickly, and stays uncomfortable for a long time.  Synthetic materials like Lycra, CoolMax, or polypropylene are moisture-wicking, fast-drying, good insulators, and remain comfortable over time.

The key to dressing for comfort is to dress in layers – several lightweight layers made of appropriate materials (like fleece and polypropylene) allow you the shed or add warmth as needed and remain comfortable throughout the day.

 

 For wet conditions, lightweight Gortex is the most desirable material for rain gear as it packs nicely into your bag without adding much weight and is waterproof.  It is also wise to carry a set of gaiters (coated nylon or GoreTex), which keep twigs and debris and water out of your boots during off-trail travel and stream crossings.

 

 Good sources of personal and hiking gear for wildlife work include Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) in Syracuse, and REI and Campmor online.  Every year Backpacker magazine publishes a “gear guide”, which gives a nice comparison of all sorts of clothing and technical equipment useful for field work.