Winter Field Studies
Course Overview:
The purpose of Northwest Connections courses is to provide university students and interested citizens with opportunities to learn about ecology and environmental studies in the field while collaborating with us on long term ecological monitoring and restoration projects. Students in our Winter Field Studies course assist NwC with monitoring the presense and distribution of forest carnivores including lynx, fisher, pine marten and wolverine.
Winter Field Studies students study the diverse habitat types represented in the Swan Valley, the flora and fauna that utilize these habitats and the human communities which depend upon the area. The development of skills is a central part of the course and students learn how to identify trees, shrubs and animal tracks as well as practice the skills necessary to travel, camp and conduct research in the winter.
The first half of the course is taught using a rustic homestead as the base camp. We spend all day in the field and then return at night to interact with guest speakers. Speakers include local residents with years of experience in the outdoors, agency biologists and managers. Three days and two nights of the course are spent in a remote backcountry setting. Students assist NwC staff in surveying one of our 10K transects designed to document track evidence of lynx, fisher, marten and wolverine. Data collected assists public and private land owners and managers in planning for the conservation of these species.
The culminating activity is a group project wherein students are asked to utilize all available information and outline the major elements of an ecosystem management plan that would conserve mid-sized carnivores in the Swan Valley.
Readings:
The Winter Field Studies reader includes segments of relevant Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife service documents, articles in conservation biology, essays by early homesteaders and trappers, and general readings in ecology. Authors include Wallace Stegner, Mary Hartwick, Bud Moore, Reed Noss, John Weaver, Barry Lopez and Mary Oliver.
Course Itinerary:
Day 1 -- 10:00am Meet @ Buck Creek Cabin, Swan Valley
Introductions -- students/staff
Safety Talk/Gear Check
Field Session : Buck Creek
Recognizing eco-types in the Swan Valley ecosystem.
Day 2 -- Forest Habitats
Field Session: Swan Front
Tree/shrub ID
Forest ecology
Evening Program:
"The Wild Bunch" Slideshow on lynx, fisher, marten and wolverine and their importance as indicator species.
Day 3 -- Animal Tracks
Field Session: Windfall Creek
Animal track and sign
Evening Program:
"Ethical Trapping: A Perspective on Forest Carnivores" -- Bud Moore and Butch Harmon, Swan Valley residents who developed a curriculum on ethical trapping for the Montana Trappers Association
Day 4 -- Wildife Linkages
Field Session: Lindbergh Lake-Jocko Ridge
Begin track survey for lynx, fisher, marten, wolverine
Set up spike camp
Evening Speaker: "Issues of Multiple Ownership and affects on wildlife"-- Vernon
La Fontaine, FS wildlife biologist for the Swan Lake Ranger District.
Day 5 -- Ecological Linkages
Field Session: Jocko Ridge-Crystal Lake
Continued track surveys in two field teams
Evening Program: "Swan Valley Community: Perspectives on Conservation" Tiger Hulett, a local logger and trapper shares his thoughts on the subject.
Day 6 -- Conservation Issues
Field Session: Crystal Lake-Lindbergh Lake
Complete track transect
Meet with Lindbergh Lake Conservation Committee to discuss current land exchange process.
Return to Buck Creek base camp
Day 7 -- Ecosystem Management
Evaluate the findings of track surveys
Work on final project
Evening Speakers: "Lynx, Marten, Fisher and Wolverine" Dr. John Weaver and "Chirp" his lynx present a talk on carnivore biology at the Condon Community Hall.
Day 8 -- Course Conclusion
Present final project
Final Exam
Course Evaluation