In this special one-day course, expert tracker Bob Cowley will introduce you to all the most common Mammal Tracks & Signs that you might come across when walking in the British countryside, revealing the wildlife with which we share our space.
Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced naturalist, this course will open your eyes to the wide range of Mammal Tracks and Signs in the world around you and provide you with a systematic approach to interpreting them correctly.
Bob will use an innovative combination of PowerPoint presentations together with the study of actual specimens to help you visualise and associate the different animals with their different tracks. Bob is also well known for the range of useful verbal mnemonics and visual tricks that he has devised to ensure that all the important information will stick in your mind long after the course has ended.
Finally, Bob will lead a guided walk to show you how to find and interpret examples in the real world.
About the Trainer: Bob Cowley.
Bob Cowley has always been fascinated by the Tracks & Signs that animals leave behind as evidence of their presence. And since the International Tracker Certification scheme (also known as CyberTracker) reached the UK in 2012, Bob has been one of its most active participants and advocates. He is now one of the few “Level 3 Trackers” in Europe, having been certified at that level in both the tracking disciplines, “Track & Sign” and “Trailing”.
As well as learning all he can about this neglected ancient skill, Bob is equally committed to passing on that knowledge. A good understanding of Track & Sign is an invaluable asset for any professional ecologist, zoological researcher or student, as well as being an excellent way of connecting people to the wildlife that lives around them.
In addition to the Mammal Society, Bob has led workshops for a variety of other local and national organisations, including the Field Studies Council, the Woodland Trust, and Oxford University. He has also been an invited speaker at the International Tracking Symposium every year since its inception in 2022, and is in daily contact with other elite trackers from all over the world.
Bob has been involved in the Oxfordshire Mammal Group since its formation in 2014, currently serving as Vice Chair. He has been particularly involved with OxMG’s outreach and education work, organising public talks, both in-person and online, and establishing a dedicated YouTube channel to enable the talks to reach a wider (indeed world-wide) audience.
Venue: This course will take place at Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PW
Accessibility:
We are committed to ensuring the accessibility of our training courses. If you require accommodations or have any accessibility concerns, please contact us at training@themammalsociety.org in advance, and we will be happy to assist you.
Booking Terms and Conditions:
As a small charity, we need to ensure our events are viable. Because of this, events may be postponed with a two weeks' notice if not enough delegate book onto a course