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WILDLIFE TRACKING INTENSIVE CERTIFICATION 2026-27

Ever wondered what’s happening behind the scenes in the wild? Most animals are elusive, nocturnal, or simply hard to spot—but their tracks and signs leave behind an incredible story. With the right skills, you can unlock a deeper understanding of the animals that call Texas home, and gain insight into their secretive behaviors.

Join us for the Wildlife Tracking Intensive, an 8-month course that takes you into the field, one weekend a month, from October to May. Over the course of the program, you’ll gain hands-on experience identifying and interpreting the tracks and signs of Central Texas' diverse wildlife, guided by expert instructors who are passionate about the art and science of wildlife tracking.

In this immersive course, you’ll learn to interpret the stories many iconic Texas mammals leave on the landscape, tracks and sign we’re sure to see include things like:

Black bear trails through the Chisos Mountains
Mountain lion tracks and sign along the Rio Grande
Check out Otter and beaver signs along the Colorado River
Shorebird and alligator tracks along the Gulf Coast
Red foxes traveling the washes of the Caprock Canyons
Coyote and badger trails that meander across the Monahans Sandhills

Each weekend offers practical, in-the-field experience that will deepen your tracking skills and your connection to the natural world. Whether you're a seasoned wildlife biologist or someone who likes the outdoors and is simply seeking to learn more about the animals that inhabit Texas, this intensive will provide you with invaluable knowledge and expertise.

Course Topics Include:

Track and Sign Identification: Learn to identify and differentiate the tracks and signs of a wide range of Texas animals.
Interpreting Animal Behavior: Use track patterns to understand animal movement and behavior.
Aging Tracks and Sign: Develop the skill to determine how old a track or sign is, offering insight into when the animal was in the area.
Trailing Techniques: Learn how to follow animal trails and track animals across many different landscapes.
Ecological Tracking: Predict animal movement and behavior based on the landscape and environmental conditions.
Behavioral Patterns: Study and observe patterns in animal behavior, enhancing your ability to locate and view wildlife.
Bird Feather and Kill Site Identification: Learn to identify feathers, nests, and signs of bird activity, and understand the stories behind animal kill sites.
Mammal Skull Identification: Gain skills in identifying mammal skulls, a key tool in understanding animal species and their behaviors.

This is one of the most comprehensive wildlife tracking programs in the world. Even those with no prior experience will walk away with a wealth of practical skills and knowledge. By the end of the course, you’ll not only have a deeper understanding of Texas’ wildlife, but also a stronger connection to the natural world around you.

The course will culminate in a two day field certification where participants will have the opportunity to certify their Wildlife Tracking Skills through CyberTracker, an international standard for Wildlife Track and Sign Certification.

Ready to track the secret lives of Texas’ wild animals? Sign up today!

Location: Earth Native Campus (Bastrop, TX) and various locations across Texas including Big Bend National Park and Monahans Sandhills State Park. Every other year the program rotates location for our third trip of the year between South Texas and Caprock Canyons State Park.

INSTRUCTORS: DAVE SCOTT & MARCIA KARR read bios

Enrollment Closed

Hope to see you next year!!

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Physical Fitness & Terrain Requirements The Wildlife Tracking Intensive is not a high-impact program, and much of our time is spent in relatively low-impact activities observing and interpreting animal tracks and sign. However, finding those tracks often takes us off established trails and into natural areas with uneven ground, brush, creekbeds, and occasionally steep terrain. Participants should be comfortable hiking approximately 4 miles over the course of a day at a moderate pace while carrying a light daypack, as well as navigating uneven and sometimes challenging terrain. We've had students in their 60s and 70s participate very successfully in this program! Age is certainly not a barrier, but participants do need to be in reasonably good physical condition and comfortable with the hiking and terrain requirements. If you have any questions about the physical demands of the program, please reach out to us before registering.

Watch a short film of Earth Native founder, Dave Scott, leading a wolf tracking expedition in Wisconsin in the Winter of 2011.

2026-27 DATES

October 10-11

November 7-10 (Big Bend Trip)

December 5-6

January 9-10

February 6-8 (Monahans Sandhills Trip)

March 6-7

April 17-19 (S. TX Trip)

May 1-2 CyberTracker Track & Sign Certification

REGISTRATION FEE

A $400 registration fee per student is required at the time of enrollment. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable should you withdraw anytime after enrolling.