CyberTracker Trailing Evaluations

At a CyberTracker Trailing Evaluation, every participant takes a turn as lead tracker. The goal is to follow an animal’s fresh spoor to locate it on the landscape, guide the group to approach and observe it, and, finally, to exit the area without alerting the animal to any human presence. Every tracking situation is different, so we are always in the position of having to “figure it out.” This uniqueness also results in variations to the exact experience of each participant, dictated by field conditions and animal behavior.

We assess every participant’s ability to follow spoor, recognize and interpret tracks & sign, anticipate where the trail is going, read the trail for danger, interpret the ecological context of the trail, and approach the animal, if the occasion arises.

The Trailing Evaluation is internationally recognized as a professional certification. For those who are not yet ready for certification as Professionals, the Evaluation is a field training in “test” form with the goal simply to strengthen our ability to read sign efficiently, accurately, and to progress along a trail. Trailing puts into play our skill at Track & Sign interpretation, and the need to “figure it out” intensifies our level of attention and focus, as well as our ability to absorb and retain information. Combined with a supportive group-learning experience, this becomes a uniquely powerful, skill-changing experience. 

Each participant receives individualized feedback at the conclusion of the evaluation based on what the Evaluator observed during the Evaluation with suggestions for continued development. We recommend that participants have prior trailing experience since Evaluators only provide feedback at the end of the two days in the field. Evaluators always emphasize learning and development so every participant leaves with more clarity about how to improve.

 At Standard Evaluations, we typically follow any of the ungulates, especially deer, elk, moose, feral hogs, javelina, and bighorn sheep; however, participants should be prepared to follow the trail of any animal large enough to leave sign, e.g., bears. When there are venue or weather constraints, we may use human trails in combination with animal trails. At Specialist Evaluations, we may also follow any of the large carnivores, including black & grizzly bears, mountain lions, and wolves. 

Lead trackers must always consider the safety of the group. Certification at the Professional level requires the tracker to manage the group successfully in approaching the animal and exiting the area undetected.

There are many levels of certification. To earn a certificate, participants will have to hit a minimum score threshold of 70%. However, the underlying impetus is not just about attaining a certificate, but rather the rich educational benefit the Evaluation provides. Tracking skill accrues with experience, and Evaluations are an effective tool for rapidly increasing one’s ability and measuring progress over time.

What to Expect at a Trailing Evaluation

The Trailing Evaluation is an opportunity for each tracker to follow a trail so we can observe the animal who is leaving it, while it is relaxed. Here are some specifics of what you can expect while in the field during a Trailing Evaluation:

• Trailing Evaluations are entirely outside in the field. Bring appropriate clothing for the weather, as well as enough food and water for each day. You should be prepared for a full day in the woods or desert. 
• Participants are assessed on their ability to move through the landscape without disturbing wildlife. Natural colored clothing and other appropriate attire and equipment is recommended.
• Each Evaluation has two to four participants.
• We follow tracks wherever the animals go, if it is safe: up and down mountains, across creeks, through swamps, into thickets, all of which can be physically challenging.
• The distances walked depend on the density of animals, the species followed, and the skill level of the lead tracker. Expect to walk at least a few miles cross country each day. The pace is often slow, and you may stand for long periods while the lead tracker looks for an unclear trail.
• Participants are on-trail for different lengths of time. The Evaluator watches trackers for as long as necessary to understand what they need to work on next to improve.
• As lead tracker, your goal is to choose a trail, follow it, interpret the animal’s behavior, stay alert to the environment of the trail, show the animal to the Evaluator and the group, and sneak away undetected. Not all of that occurs on every trail, but it is the ultimate goal.
• The Evaluator may ask questions, and some may not have a clear answer: Which way is the wind blowing? What did the animal do here? Where is the animal going? Is the animal aware of us? Is it female or male, adult or young? Answers are not recorded as right or wrong as at a Track & Sign Evaluation, but they reflect the tracker’s understanding of natural history, animal behavior, and spoor interpretation.
• While not on point as lead tracker, you have a chance to observe how other trackers work trails. If a highly skilled tracker is being evaluated, then you will witness excellent tracking. Having the chance to work with peers and share experiences within your crew adds another valuable learning opportunity.
• During the two days, you will see, first-hand, animal behavior as it is reflected in the trail; you may watch animals; you will come away with a clearer sense of how to age tracks and relocate a trail after losing it; an understanding of how to play wind currents to your advantage; and how to move through the woods quietly in order to sneak up on animals.
• The rigors of a Trailing Evaluation will push you to the edge of your tracking abilities and help move you past a wall in your tracking practice.
• At the end of day two, the Evaluator will provide feedback on what you did well and where you can improve. You will receive a score and, if earned, a CyberTracker Certification for Trailing.

Basic Requirements and skill sets

Trailing I Certificate: The candidate must be a fair systematic tracker and be able to track humans or large animals. He or she must have a fair ability to judge the age of spoor. To qualify for the Trailing I certificate the candidate must obtain 70% on the Trailing of a human or large mammal spoor.

Trailing II Certificate: The candidate must be a good systematic tracker and be able to track large animals. He or she must have a fair ability to judge the age of spoor. To qualify for the Trailing II certificate the candidate must obtain 80% for the Trailing of a large mammal spoor.

Trailing III:
The candidate must be a good systematic tracker and be able to track medium or large animals. He or she must have a fair ability to judge the age of spoor. To qualify for the Trailing III certificate the candidate must obtain 90% on the Trailing of a medium or large mammal spoor.

Trailing Professional Certificate: The Trailing Professional candidate must be a good systematic tracker and be able to track humans or medium or large animals. He or she must have a fair ability to judge the age of spoor. To qualify for the Trailing Professional certificate the candidate must obtain 100% for the Trailing of a human or medium or large mammal spoor. A Trailing Professional certificate qualifies a candidate to attend a Trailing Specialist Evaluation.
The number of persons evaluated at one time must be limited to four maximum, with two working the trail at a time. Depending on the venue, it may not always be possible to find the animal. To be awarded the Trailing Professional certificate the candidate must find the animal, even if it takes several assessments to complete the evaluation. A venue must be selected where it is possible to find the animal on at least one assessment, even if the candidate did not find the animal on the final assessment. Alternatively, the participant must have found an animal on a previous trailing evaluation at another venue and should have scored 100% on that component while being evaluated by the same evaluator.

Trailing Specialist Certificate:
The Trailing Specialist evaluation is done in varying (easy, difficult and very difficult) terrain on an animal that is difficult to follow, and must be conducted by both an Evaluator and an External Evaluator.
The canadite must be a good speculative tracker: This includes the ability to predict where spoor will be found beyond the immediate area, i.e. beyond the vicinity directly ahead of the tracker. He or she must be good at judging the age of spoor and must be able to detect signs of stress or the location of carcasses from spoor. The Trailing Specialist must obtain 100% on the Trailing of a difficult animal spoor.

Five aspects are evaluated

(1) Spoor recognition is the ability of the tracker to recognize and follow spoor at a reasonable speed. Indicators may include: Not looking down in front of feet, but looking for signs five to ten meters ahead; Moving at a steady rate, not in stop-start manner; Recognizing signs in grass or hard substrate; Recognizing when there are no signs, and when no longer on trail; Ability to recognize sign after losing spoor.

(2) Spoor anticipation is the ability of the tracker to anticipate where the animal was going and therefore where he or she will find the spoor further ahead. Indicators may include: Looking well ahead, reading the terrain to look for most probable route; Interpreting behavior from tracks;
 Using knowledge of terrain (water, feeding areas, clearings) to predict movements of the animal; Not over-cautious (too slow), but not too confident (too fast);
 Anticipating where to find tracks after losing spoor.

(3) Anticipation of dangerous situations is the ability of the tracker to read the terrain and be aware of hazardous situations and potentially harmful encounters. In North America a dangerous situation may include but is not limited to: surprising a bear at close range; carnivores protecting a carcass; large ungulates protecting calves or bears with cubs; thickets of poison ivy/oak or other poisonous plants; ticks; extremely steep terrain.  Indicators may include:
 Awareness of wind direction;
 Knowledge of behavior, e.g. animals resting at mid-day; Animal behavior indicating danger, time of year for calving or rut activity; Avoiding danger by leaving the spoor and picking up the spoor further ahead;
 Determine the position of dangerous animals without putting him or her self at risk.

(4) Alertness is the ability of the tracker to spot animals before the animals spot him or her. Indicators may include:
 Looking well ahead for signs of danger;
 Stopping to listen when necessary;
 Awareness of warning signs, alarm calls and smells;
 Awareness of signs of other animals;
 Seeing the animal before it sees the tracker.

(5) Stealth is the ability to approach animals without being detected by the animals and maintaining a low level of disturbance in the field. Indicators may include:
 Minimizing noise levels (talking vs. hand signals, etc.);
 Low impact on other animals;
 Use of cover to approach animal and exit the area;
 Appropriate proximity to animal(close enough to observe, but not too close to alert/disturb); Maintain animal’s unawareness to trackers presence.