Where: Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, Loveland, Colorado
When: Saturday, November 16, 2024, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Join other wildlife enthusiasts for a fun hike looking for mountain lion tracks and learning about mountain lion behavior. Enjoy a relaxing day in nature, burn a few calories and learn where, when and how to look for mountain lion activity.
Cost: $100
Fresh mountain lion tracks, seconds old.
You’ll learn how to identify tracks of mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, red and grey foxes, Merriam’s turkeys, deer and elk. You’ll also learn the difference between canine and feline tracks and how to identify tracks without any pad marks in the snow but simply a dimple in the surface.
Expect a five mile hike with easy and moderate sections. Given the conditions, we will see tracks in dry sand and dirt, tracks in the mud as well as snow, where available.
The six wildlife tracking fundamentals will be covered:
1. Track identification: Who made the track?
2. Track interpretation: What happened here?
3. Trailing: Where is the animal headed and why?
4. Track aging: When was this track made?
5. Wildlife habitat tracking: Why is this animal here?
Consider downloading the app iTrack for an excellent overview for mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, bears and numerous prey species, beginning with deer and elk.
The goal of this workshop is to help you not only identify tracks and understand the fundamentals above but also learn an incredible amount about what results in fantastic wildlife habitat.
WHAT TO BRING
layered clothing
decent footwear for hiking (plan on snow and bare ground)
snacks and lunch
at least two liters of water
camera (cell phone is plenty)
a sauntering spirit
We will be stopping often to discuss the tracks and habitat of the wildlife that call this place home. There are many incredible connections worth learning that will enrich your time afield.
This is a great opportunity to ensure you have the Ten Essentials in your pack. Check out my Ten Essentials Plus system. If you’re just getting started, I highly recommend buying the SOL Bivvy XL first. It will save you from hypothermia and is an incredible shelter to wait out a thunderstorm.
WHERE WE’LL MEET
We will meet at the hilltop parking lot at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch at 8:20 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2024. We’ll plan to start hiking at 8:30 a.m. Take highway 34 west of Loveland toward the Big Thompson River canyon. The address for the ranch is: 2939 N Co Rd 31D, Loveland, CO 80538. When you see the big sign for the ranch, turn right onto the dirt road, go past the horse barn, over the bridge and UP THE HILL. Then veer to the right into the Hilltop parking lot. Note the Park icon below. We’ll meet there. I drive a white Toyota Highlander. It will be parked on the south end of the parking lot.