Wildlife Tracking Courses 

Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, 2026

Location:
Port Townsend and surrounding area

Instructor:
David Moskowitz

Spend two days in the field with professional wildlife tracker, naturalist, and educator David Moskowitz in this Cybertracker certification course (www.cybertracker.org). David has an approach that is highly interactive, with "test" questions starting in the first moments of class. He actively engages participants in identification and interpretation of tracks and signs, and allows plenty of time for questions and discussion. This style is an excellent way to learn and investigate whether or not you answer enough questions correctly to attain a Cybertracker Track & Sign Certification.

Certificates are awarded on three levels.
Class size is limited to 10 people
Lodging and food not provided.

This class fills quickly— early registration recommended.

Note: No experience is necessary to take this course, but some understanding of tracking is helpful.

Tuition:
$350

Ages:
18+, or 16+ with parent enrollment

Financial Assistance: TCNA (Tracker Certification North America) has limited funds to provide financial access, particularly to participants from historically marginalized communities (e.g., BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women) and anyone who needs financial support. Participants can apply for financial access here.

What is Cybertracker Conservation? This system started off as a software program designed to help South African indigenous trackers, who could not read or write, gather wildlife data for conservation efforts. While the evaluation is an excellent measure of observer reliability, what’s more, it is an unparalleled training tool in the field of wildlife tracking and natural history. It is the international tracking gold standard certifying people in Africa, Europe, and North America, with thousands of people having been certified in the United States alone. Learn more at www.trackercertification.com.

June 13 and 14, 2026
9:00am - 4:00pm

Location:
Northwest Olympic Peninsula

Instructor:
Andrew Stratton

Spend two days exploring the hidden world of the Peninsula’s largest apex predator with Olympic Cougar Project’s Andrew Stratton. This introductory field course offers a rare opportunity to see how cougars shape—and move through—their wild landscapes. Through field outings, guided discussions, and hands-on exercises, you’ll gain a grounded understanding of cougar ecology, behavior, and the conservation challenges they face. We’ll also cover practical, community-focused ways to live responsibly in cougar country.

Topics include:

• Tracking fundamentals: identifying cougar sign and interpreting behavior

• Trail-camera use and evidence interpretation

• GPS tools for mapping territories and movement

• Reading wildlife corridors in fragmented landscapes

• Anatomy and interpretation of a mountain lion kill site

• Best practices for encounters and coexistence
  
  

Perfect for naturalists, hikers, land stewards, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of these remarkable animals.

Tuition:
$355 (includes state sales tax)

Ages:
16+ (minors must be accompanied by a registered adult)

Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2
9:00am - 4:00pm

Location:
Northwest Olympic Peninsula

Instructor:
Andrew Stratton

An exclusive opportunity to gain hands-on field experience in a small group (maximum of 6 participants), guided by regional expert Andrew Stratton from the Olympic Cougar Project.

Enhance your skills in tracking and trailing wildlife with this comprehensive course which provides in-depth training on identifying and following animal trails, understanding behavioral signs, and utilizing tracking tools effectively.

Throughout the program, participants will learn to:

• Identify Tracks and Sign: Accurately recognize and interpret animal tracks, scat, and other indicators of wildlife presence.

• Follow Trails: Develop techniques for tracking animals through various terrains and environmental conditions.

• Understand Animal Behavior: Gain insights into the habits and movements of different species, improving your ability to predict their behavior and movements.

• Aging and Event Sequencing: Develop skills to age tracks and sequence events, allowing you to place animal activities within a timeline.

• Use Tracking Tools: Learn to effectively use tools such as track identifiers, field guides, and GPS for accurate tracking.

This intensive course combines theoretical knowledge with practical field exercises, ensuring participants acquire the skills needed for both recreational tracking and professional wildlife monitoring. Join us to deepen your understanding of wildlife and enhance your trailing and tracking expertise.

Tuition:
$325

Ages:
16+ (minors must be accompanied by a registered adult)

Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20, 2026
9:00am - 3:00pm

Location:
Nordland, WA

Instructor:
Nyn Tomkins

Expand your wildlife tracking and observation skills by spending the weekend diving into the study of mammal bones! This class will offer both an introduction to the anatomy of mammal bones while bringing in advanced concepts of how the structure of bones informs its function. The focus will be on parts of the skeleton that are most applicable to field skills in wildlife tracking and observation. The class will be geared towards folks who are completely new to bone anatomy as well as advanced students.

So much of how we relate to the world is expressed in our bones. We will cover foot morphology and how that applies to wildlife tracking as well as what makes each of the bones of the limb unique, helping to deepen field skills in bone identification. We will learn how to look at skulls and gain insights into an animal’s life based on the shape of the skull.

The class will be a mix of lecture presentations, facilitated exercises with bones and hands on time with a diverse array of specimens.

What to Bring:

• notebook and pen

• lunch, water
  

Tuition:
$285

Ages:
18+

For description and full details click on the green button at the bottom of the page.

Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026

Location:
Port Townsend and surrounding area

Instructor:
David Moskowitz

Spend two days in the field with professional wildlife tracker, naturalist, and educator David Moskowitz in this Cybertracker certification course (www.cybertracker.org). David has an approach that is highly interactive, with "test" questions starting in the first moments of class. He actively engages participants in identification and interpretation of tracks and signs, and allows plenty of time for questions and discussion. This style is an excellent way to learn and investigate whether or not you answer enough questions correctly to attain a Cybertracker Track & Sign Certification.

Certificates are awarded on three levels.
Class size is limited to 10 people
Lodging and food not provided.

This class fills quickly— early registration recommended.

Note: No experience is necessary to take this course, but some understanding of tracking is helpful.

Tuition:
$385 (includes state sales tax)

Ages:
18+, or 16+ with parent enrollment

Financial Assistance: TCNA (Tracker Certification North America) has limited funds to provide financial access, particularly to participants from historically marginalized communities (e.g., BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women) and anyone who needs financial support. Participants can apply for financial access here.

What is Cybertracker Conservation? This system started off as a software program designed to help South African indigenous trackers, who could not read or write, gather wildlife data for conservation efforts. While the evaluation is an excellent measure of observer reliability, what’s more, it is an unparalleled training tool in the field of wildlife tracking and natural history. It is the international tracking gold standard certifying people in Africa, Europe, and North America, with thousands of people having been certified in the United States alone. Learn more at www.trackercertification.com.