A key program helping DNR biologists track wolves is looking for volunteers.
The Wolf Monitoring Program relies on volunteers to track the animals over winter.
DNR large carnivore specialist David MacFarland...
".....volunteers and DNR staff go out in the winter using established tracking techniques and established tracking blocks go look for signs of wolves to determine how many animals were there that left those marks in the snow...."
MacFarland says that data is used to put together the DNR estimate of the wolf population.
He says you don't have to be an expert to be trained as a volunteer....
".....we invite everyone to participate regardless of their experience with tracking. This training is designed to provide them with the tools they would need to effectively go out into wolf range and accurately identify wolf tracks and follow the protocols...."
The class will focus on medium to large carnivores as well as some common mammals. The ecology-based class covers the history of wolves in Wisconsin, biology, ecology and other topics.
A listing of classes offered, times and location is on the DNR website.
