Southwest Wildlife Tracking Institute
5-month Intensive
Spend 5 3-day weekends on some of the wildest and most beautiful landscapes in the American Southwest, tracking the most elusive and fascinating creatures these habitats have to offer. Each weekend focuses on a different aspect of the tracking process. Beginners and experienced trackers welcome.
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- Jan 30-Feb 1: Observation Skills
- Feb 27-Mar 1: Tracking Process
- April 3-5: Clear Print ID
- April 24-26: Gaits and Track Patterns
- May 8-10: Mock CyberTracker Certification​​
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All of our time will be spent in the field, and we'll be outside in almost all weather, walking up to a couple miles over varied and sometimes challenging terrain. Please consider your level of fitness when registering.
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$1795. REGISTRATION FULL. Please contact me to be on the email list for the 2027 Intensive.
Questions:
If you have questions, or to register, please contact me at southwestwildlifetracking@gmail.com
Southwest Wildlife Tracking Institute Wildtrack Weekends
Build a tracking curriculum around your personal schedule!
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Wildtrack weekends are comprehensive, field-based tracking classes that can be taken singly, or all together. The class content stands alone, and if you take more than one, will also build on previous classes to provide a fuller understanding of the art and science of track and sign identification.
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- Feb 6-8, Sierra Vista AZ: San Pedro River and Huachuca Mountains
LIMITED SPOTS REMAIN
- Mar 6-8, Deserts and Mountains of San Diego County
FULL
- April 10-12, Deserts and Mountains of San Diego County
LIMITED SPOTS REMAIN
- May 1-3, Deserts and Mountains of San Diego County
LIMITED SPOTS REMAIN
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Beginners and experienced trackers welcome—no matter your skill level, there is something here for you.​
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Topics may include:
- Clear track ID
- Animal anatomy and foot morphology
- Sign ID, including feeding, beds, scent marking, etc
- Skull, feather, and track cast ID
- Gaits and animal biomechanics
- Landscape-scale natural history and reading the terrain
- Interpreting stories on the land
- And much more!
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All of our time will be spent in the field, and we'll be outside in almost all weather, walking up to a couple miles over varied and sometimes challenging terrain. Please consider your level of fitness when registering.
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Single class $395. Two or more classes, $325 each.
Questions:
If you have questions, or to register, please email me at southwestwildlifetracking@gmail.com​
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Fox Paw School
Weekend Tracking Class
July 11-12, 2026, Hardwick VT.
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We learn tracking best from other people—as Mark Elbroch says, "Tracking takes more than a lifetime to learn." This weekend-long tracking class is a unique, participative way to deepen your tracking knowledge.
Expect to spend two full days out on the land, looking at track and sign, and learning an observation-based process to understand and interpret the lives of the animals with whom we share this landscape. Beginners and experienced trackers welcome—no matter your skill level, there is something here for you.​
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Our curriculum is dictated by the wild places where we track, so our specific topics are unpredictable. They may include:
- Clear track ID
- Animal anatomy and foot morphology
- Sign ID, including feeding, beds, scent marking, etc
- Skull, feather, and track cast ID
- Gaits and animal biomechanics
- Landscape-scale natural history and reading the terrain
- Interpreting stories on the land
- And much more!
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All of our time will be spent in the field, and we'll be outside in almost all weather, walking up to a couple miles over varied and sometimes challenging terrain. Please consider your level of fitness when registering.
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Tuition is $395. Early bird tuition of $325 available until April 15.
Questions:
If you have questions, or to register, please email me at foxpawschool@gmail.com​
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Humboldt Tracker
Gathering
Sep 4-13, 2026. Ravencliff YMCA Camp, Humboldt CA
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Join me for the third Humboldt Tracker Gathering, a mini tracking convention featuring classes with me and other tracking instructors, as well as two track and sign evaluations featuring evaluator Matt Nelson.
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Stay for just a couple of days, the full duration, or anything in between—there's no minimum commitment. Each day will feature a variety of workshops, group outings, and communal activities, with plenty of flexibility to mix and match.
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Nestled in the heart of redwood country, YMCA Camp Ravencliff spans over 60 acres of lush meadows, wooded hillsides, and riverfront terrain, providing an isolated yet accessible haven for exploration. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Eel River, the camp borders Redwood State Park, granting direct access to groves of towering ancient redwoods and a plethora of tracking hotspots. In September, the weather is typically mild and beautiful, with low river levels exposing expansive mudflats perfect for spotting fresh track and sign.
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All proceeds support the TCNA Equal Access Fund, making professional-level tracking training more inclusive for underrepresented communities in wildlife research, conservation, and outdoor education.
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Details and tuition TBA—contact Terry Hunefeld at thunefeld@gmail.com to get on the early announcement list.
Workshops & Custom Classes
The Fox Paw School and the Southwest Wildlife Tracking Institute can travel to you!
I'm available to present to your university class, student group, or just to you and your friends. I offer workshops ranging from tracking, to bird language, to skull interpretation, to pattern-based tree ID. We can also develop a custom class that focuses on your specific interests.
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Contact me about rates or to discuss content for a ready-made or custom class.