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Algonquin Winter Tracking Expedition 2008
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Tuesday (Day 3) |
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Tuesday was much colder than previous days. No more freezing rain, just
plain freezing! |
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The day started with a track
casting demo by Dan. We found some fine wolf tracks in a
small parking lot just off the highway. |
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A closeup view of the tracks. |
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First, the tracks are sprayed with a
special liquid wax spray. This is necessary in order to
preserve the tracks' shape when the plaster is poured into
them. If this wasn't done beforehand the liquid plaster
mixture would melt the tracks (remember this is all on snow). |
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Plastic rims were then placed
around the tracks to hold the plaster when it is poured into
the track. |
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Pouring the plaster into the
tracks. |
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One of the finished track
casts, at the end of the day. |
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We then split into our usual
two groups. The group I was part of
started the day by following the tracks of what appeared to
be a wolf, however could possibly have been a dog.
We spent some time analyzing these patterns. This appeared to
be where the animal sat for a while, and then either slid or
stretched down a small hill to the right.
It then continued in a somewhat erratic trail, which,
according to one member of our group, lent credence to the
theory that this was the trail of an escaped sled dog, and
not a wolf.
Eventually the trail led back to the highway, and we were
unable to find any continuation of it to follow. |
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So we headed off to a completely
different area for lunch.
A nice fire for warmth along with
tea, soup and sandwiches. |
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After lunch we spent some time
following these marten tracks. |
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We came across a very nice set
of Grey Jay tracks. |
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And a nice crisp set of marten
tracks, where it had jumped down onto the snow-covered road
from a snow bank. |
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In the evening Dan gave a presentation on "Wildlife Tracking
Evaluations", which is a new certification program for trackers. It was
extremely interesting as he included a lot of the scenarios that he had
to solve on his last test. Quite challenging! |
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