Volunteer for Our Wolverine Study!
The Idaho Conservation League, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness and Idaho Fish and Game are partnering to learn more about wolverines in North Idaho.
| When |
Sat Dec 03, 2011 from 12:00 PM to 05:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Where | Sandpoint Ranger Station |
| Contact Name | Kelsey Brassuer |
| Add event to calendar |
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We are pleased to announce that the Idaho Conservation League is
partnering with the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness and the
Idaho Department of Fish and Game to conduct a winter wolverine
study in the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains. The success of this effort relies on volunteer support.
Volunteering for the wolverine study can take many forms, but the objective is to capture wolverines on camera in these two mountain ranges. One volunteer opportunity is to be a Bait Station Leader. Bait Station Leaders will ideally adopt one or two stations for the field season, though there is flexibility to visit other stations and work with other volunteers. Leaders will setup bait stations and cameras (generally before Christmas), visit stations once or twice to download pictures, collect DNA (hair) samples and change the bait, and then take stations down mid- to late February.
If you want to volunteer, but don’t want to take the lead on a station, there will still be great opportunities to get into the backcountry with our leaders as schedules permits. There are also opportunities to assist with other project needs throughout the season, such as perusing photos of wolverines from the bait station cameras!
Our 2011-12 Bait Station Leader training will be held on December 3 from 12:00 to 5:00 pm at the Sandpoint Ranger District office at 1602 Ontario. Those who would like to be Bait Station Leaders are strongly encouraged to attend this informative training. Kevin Davis will give an avalanche training and IDFG biologists Michael Lucid and Lacy Robinson will hold a session on bait station construction and maintenance. Dennison Webb of Selkirk Outdoor Leadership & Education will also give a talk on the basics of winter travel.
If you are interested in being a
bait station leader, please RSVP by for the training by
Thursday, December 1, to mustelids@scotchmanpeaks.org.
Further winter training is available on December 10 when
wolverine and tracking expert Brian Baxter will lead a class on
winter tracking. Inside class work will be at the Friends of
Scotchman Peaks office in Heron, Montana. Actual tracking will be
done in the East Fork of Blue Creek at the southern end of the
proposed wilderness. This class will be offered again on January
14. These classes are free. There is a small charge ($5.00)
for class materials.
To sign up for the tracking class,
contact brian_baxter@yahoo.com.
If you are interested in helping with this exciting project, but
would rather not be a Bait Station Leader, please respond to
info@scotchmanpeaks.org.
