Cougar Ecology & Verification Workshop
Registration
Register Online: Cougar Ecology Digital Online Registration
Download Brochure: Cougar Ecology & Verification Workshop Brochure (Acrobat File .pdf)
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For Credit
Those interested in registering for university credit should contact Continuing Education at 1(800)-621-5376 or contined@uww.edu. Standard tuition rates apply.
About
Sponsored By
A Naturalist's World & University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Secretive, elusive, the creature of myths and rumors, and capable of killing people, cougars stir our imagination, curiosity, and fear. Improve your knowledge about cougars, their presence, dangers, and management. The instructor, Dr. James Halfpenny, will also cover cougar ecology and how cougars interact at the human interface. If you are interested in, or encounter any of the situations below, then this is the workshop for you.
- Population Biology
- Behavior and Ecology
- Cougar/Human Interactions
- Cougar Pet Trade
- Locating Tracks and Signs on the Trail
- Identifying Footprints
- Verifying Presence
- Collecting Quality Evidence
- Determining Sex and Size of Animals
- Gaits and Reading Stories
Dates and Locations
December 12 & 13, 2009
The workshop will be at UW-Whitewater
Directions will be sent upon registration and are available at www.uww.edu/maps
Instructor
Dr. James C. Halfpenny (A Naturalist’s World) is one of the world’s foremost experts on finding rare carnivore species. His work on Human/Mountain Lion encounters is featured in A Beast in the Garden by David Baron and the November 2003 Reader’s Digest.
This professional-level workshop is designed for finding and documenting the signs of rare carnivore species, not just cougars. The focus will be cougars and differentiating their sign from those signs of other species, wild and domestic. Emphasis will be placed on collecting and preserving quality evidence to document the field
Biographical Sketch
Dr. James C. Halfpenny, Ph.D., President of A Naturalist's World, tracker, carnivore ecologist, educator, and writer. Jim is author of many books and videos including Tracking Cougars: The Basics, A Field Guide to Mammal Tracking, Tracking: Mastering the Basics, Tracking Elk for Hunters, Yellowstone Bears in the Wild, Yellowstone Wolves in the Wild, Scats and Tracks Regional Series, and Winter: An Ecological Handbook, among others. See www.tracknature.com for more information.
Jim specializes in finding signs of cougars, lynx, bears, wolves, wolverine and other carnivores. He trains professionals on a worldwide basis in the skills of finding carnivores. Dr. Halfpenny knows what level of skills it takes to find signs that will "stand up in a court of law." Jim will share his personal experience and pass on valuable
Cost & Details
Cost is $150 for both days and includes handouts and plaster casting supplies. The program is designed for and limited to 50 participants with 25 per laboratory. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Lunch
Each participant will receive extensive handouts and certificate of completion, but might also want to bring a notebook for writing. Cameras may be used to copy some displays and materials.
Anyone interested in taking this course for one university credit can contact us at: 800-621-5376 or contined@uww.edu
Contacts
Jim Halfpenny, Ph.D.
A Naturalist's World
www.tracknature.com
(406)848-9458
PO Box 989
Gardiner, MT 59030
Schedule
Day 1 - Setting the Stage: The Cougar from Myth to Reality
8:00 - Registration and Introductions - Ecology
Morning Lectures
The Gestalt: Ecology and Verification
Cougars: Biology, Ecology, and Behavior
Afternoon Lectures
Cougars and People: Pets
Cougars and People: Confrontation
Cougars and People: The Neighborhood and Confrontation Time Line
Trails: Carnivore Gaits, Behavioral Stories, and Blood
Day 2 - Trace Scene Identification: Field Knowledge and Skills
9:00 - Program start
Morning Lectures and Laboratories
Footprints: Clues, Criteria, and Measurements
Signs: Scats, Burials, and Sounds
Lab A - Footprint Interpretation and Track Preservation
Lab B - Cougars in Wisconsin: Research, Laws, and Management
Afternoon Lecture and Laboratories
Predation: Events, Signs, and Case Studies
Lab A - Cougars in Wisconsin: Research, Laws, and Management
Lab B - Footprint Interpretation and Track Preservation
Special Notice
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is committed to equal opportunity in its educational programs, activities and employment policies, for all persons, regardless of race, color, gender, creed, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, marital status, Vietnam-era veteran status, parental status and pregnancy.
If you have any disabling condition that requires special accommodations or attention, please advise us well in advance. We will make every effort to accommodate your special needs.
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Contact Information
Office of Continuing Education Services
2005 Roseman, UW-Whitewater
Whitewater, Wisconsin
(262) 472-3165
Email: cesevents@uww.edu