The CyberTracker Track and Sign Certification is an internationally applied, professional-level certification used to promote wildlife tracking and knowledge. This two-day field experience is both an assessment and a training, with an emphasis on open dialogue and real learning.
The tracks and sign of any and all species encountered in the field may be asked, whether big or small, clear or obscure, fresh or old. After participants give their answers for a set of questions, a dialogue ensues between the evaluator and participants to provide the opportunity for everyone involved to internalize field marks, wildlife behavior, and natural history.
The Tracker Certifications emphasize practical tracking and the development of reliable field skills, and are unassociated with any particular philosophy or tracking school. No prior training is required to participate.
We also offer One-day Track and Sign Certifications as an introduction to the Cybertracker Certification process. Participants are asked fewer questions, but they include the same rich variety of animal sign and behaviors covered in the 2-day evaluation. The one-day evaluation costs less, is easier to fit into busy schedules, and provides an excellent springboard to practice and apply fundamental tracking skills. Participants who score between 70 and 100% will receive Track and Sign Level I certificates.
Basic requirements and skill sets:
The CyberTracker system serves as professional-grade training, but also identifies and celebrates existing high-level trackers. This means an individual with exceptional skill can achieve the highest award possible in the type of evaluations they participate in, even on their first evaluation.
Track & Sign I: The candidate must be able to interpret the spoor of medium to large animals and must have a fair knowledge of animal behavior. To qualify for the Track & Sign I certificate the candidate must obtain 70% on the Track & Sign Interpretation.
Track & Sign II Certificate: The candidate must be able to interpret the spoor of small to large animals, interpret less distinct spoor, and must have a good knowledge of animal behavior. To qualify for the Track & Sign II certificate the candidate must obtain 80% on the Track & Sign Interpretation evaluation.
Track & Sign III and Track & Sign IV Certificates: The candidate must be able to interpret the spoor of any animal, interpret obscure spoor and must have a very good knowledge of animal behavior. To qualify for the Track & Sign III certificate the candidate must obtain 90% on the Track & Sign Interpretation evaluation, and for Level IV, 100%.
Track & Sign Specialist Certification: The candidate must be able to interpret the spoor of any animal, interpret very obscure spoor and must have an excellent knowledge of animal behavior and natural history. To qualify for the Track & Sign Specialist certificate the candidate must obtain 100% on a Track & Sign Interpretation Specialist evaluation.*
*Track & Sign Specialist Evaluation: The process during the Track & Sign Specialist evaluation is identical to the above-described evaluation, excepting the following variation: At least 50 “very complex” spoor will be asked, with not more than 10 “complex” spoor. No “easy” spoor will be asked. In addition to this, 7 “extremely complex” spoor will be asked; No penalty is awarded for an incorrect answer on an extremely difficult question, but three correctly answered extremely difficult spoor cancel the mistake of one incorrect answer; thus, participants can rectify up to two mistakes during an evaluation and still earn their Specialist Certificates.
Tracker certificates are awarded to participants who undergo both track & sign and trailing certification, and corresponds to the lowest level scored on either evaluation: Tracker levels I, II, III, Professional and Senior Tracker. A Senior Tracker scored 100% on both Track and Sign and Trailing Specialist Evaluations.
Scoring:
Unlike traditional grading, Track and Sign Evaluations use a weighted scoring system that reflects the difficulty rating of the track or sign (spoor). The candidate is awarded one point for the correct interpretation of simple spoor, or three marks against for a mistake. Two points are awarded for the correct interpretation of complex spoor, or two marks against for a mistake. Three points are awarded for the correct interpretation of very complex spoor, or one point against for a mistake. The correct interpretation of three bonus questions, or extremely complex spoor, erases one mistake. The participant’s final score is a percentage calculated by dividing the total number of correct points by the sum of the correct and incorrect points.
Simple Questions: Clear, complete, typical, with no similar species: The margins of the sign are clear and distinct and the track or other sign is typical in every way: It is not exceptionally small (e.g. young animal), it is not abnormally large. There are no similar tracks or signs of other species.
Complex Questions: Unclear, incomplete, typical, (and/or) can be confused with a single other similar species: A simple track or other sign but with margins unclear or indistinct. Or the sign is slightly incomplete in its typical form. The sign is still typical in every way – It is not exceptionally small (e.g. young animal), it is not abnormally large.
Very Complex Questions: Obscure, partial, atypical, (and/or) can be confused with two or more similar species, or tracks of very small animals. A track or other sign that is very unclear and indistinct, or severely incomplete, yet still distinguishable (e.g. only claws showing in track). Or, a clear and distinct track or other sign from a small animal (chipmunk or smaller), a rare species in an area, or a species poorly covered in tracking resources.
Extremely Complex Questions These may be extremely incomplete or indistinct tracks or sign of common species, tracks or sign of rare species, or challenging bones, scats, nests, etc.