Congratulations to Rob Rich for earning his Track and Sign Professional Certificate in Condon, MT! This significant achievement was awarded during an evaluation hosted by Swan Valley Connections and led by Michelle Peziol. Rob has long been committed to developing his tracking skills, and this accomplishment is a testament to his hard work and passion for wildlife.

Rob’s journey into wildlife tracking began in 2010 with his involvement in the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project. Since then, he has become a devoted field ecologist and naturalist, using tracking and other noninvasive methods to study wildlife behavior, habitat use, and conservation needs. His work spans various research projects, often focusing on monitoring birds, beavers, and carnivores. Rob is also the coordinator of the Montana Beaver Working Group for the National Wildlife Federation and offers wildlife tracking education and consulting services for individuals and groups. Additionally, he serves on TCNA’s Professional Development committee.

During this evaluation, Rob successfully tackled challenges such as identifying partial red fox tracks, water-blurred wolf tracks, and great horned owl tracks. Notable finds included bald-faced hornet nest material gathering marks on wood, a short-tailed weasel scat, and a great blue heron cough pellet made entirely of crayfish.

We are excited to celebrate Rob’s achievement and look forward to his continued contributions to the field of wildlife tracking and conservation.