| David Brown's Wildlife Services 12 Hotel Road Warwick, MA 01378 Tel: 978 544 8175 E-mail: info@dbwildlife.com |
| Quabbin Trails programs * Sponsored programs |
| Quabbin Trails Programs Late winter 2010 |
Quabbin Reservoir is surrounded by a huge protected
watershed of forest, field and beaver ponds where human
intrusion is light and wildlife abounds. Even in marginal tracking
or birding conditions, a day spent in this "accidental wilderness"
refreshes the soul.
watershed of forest, field and beaver ponds where human
intrusion is light and wildlife abounds. Even in marginal tracking
or birding conditions, a day spent in this "accidental wilderness"
refreshes the soul.
Suitablility: Outdoor programs are suitable for reasonably fit adults. Both beginner and
experienced trackers are welcome. However, participants should be free of any medical condition
that might be aggravated by long periods of walking in cold and snow away from shelter. Since
much travel is off-trail, programs are not suitable for anyone with balance or coordination problems.
Due to the difficulty in obtaining emergency medical care in remote locations behind
locked gates, Quabbin programs are not recommended for anyone with a history of
incapacitating sudden-onset illness
Clothing and Equipment: Dress for the weather remembering that tracking is often a slow
process. Bring extra clothes, a lunch and water. A thermos with hot fluid and an insulated pad to
sit on will make lunch more comfortable. Snowshoes are advised, depending on conditions.
Sunglasses will protect the eyes from snow-glare on bright days. (See the Products page for a
ten-page handout, "How to Stay Warm Outdoors in the Winter",)
Directions: All Quabbin programs meet at the common in Petersham center across from the
country store at 9:45 a.m. from where we will convoy to the site of the day's tracking. Follow Rte 2
to Exit 17 (Rte 32) and go south 6 miles to Petersham center. The trip from the western suburbs of
Boston takes about 1 1/2 hours. Please leave time for the inevitable delays so that you won't be
left behind.
Registration: Use the linked registration blank only to register for Quabbin Trails programs.
If you wish to register after the deadline indicated in the program description, please
call or e-mail first to ensure that the program has openings.
Cancellation/withdrawal:
experienced trackers are welcome. However, participants should be free of any medical condition
that might be aggravated by long periods of walking in cold and snow away from shelter. Since
much travel is off-trail, programs are not suitable for anyone with balance or coordination problems.
Due to the difficulty in obtaining emergency medical care in remote locations behind
locked gates, Quabbin programs are not recommended for anyone with a history of
incapacitating sudden-onset illness
Clothing and Equipment: Dress for the weather remembering that tracking is often a slow
process. Bring extra clothes, a lunch and water. A thermos with hot fluid and an insulated pad to
sit on will make lunch more comfortable. Snowshoes are advised, depending on conditions.
Sunglasses will protect the eyes from snow-glare on bright days. (See the Products page for a
ten-page handout, "How to Stay Warm Outdoors in the Winter",)
Directions: All Quabbin programs meet at the common in Petersham center across from the
country store at 9:45 a.m. from where we will convoy to the site of the day's tracking. Follow Rte 2
to Exit 17 (Rte 32) and go south 6 miles to Petersham center. The trip from the western suburbs of
Boston takes about 1 1/2 hours. Please leave time for the inevitable delays so that you won't be
left behind.
Registration: Use the linked registration blank only to register for Quabbin Trails programs.
If you wish to register after the deadline indicated in the program description, please
call or e-mail first to ensure that the program has openings.
Cancellation/withdrawal:
- In the event a program is not adequately subscribed by the registration deadline,
- you will be notified of cancellation at the telephone number or e-mail address
you supplied on the blank.
- You may withdraw from a program with refund any time before the registration deadline.
- list. In a personal emergency you may, of course, withdraw with refund at any time.
- If seriously inappropriate weather conditions require cancellation of the
- program, you will be called on the evening before at the number supplied on the
registration blank.
Quabbin Trails: Snow tracking in March
The sun, climbing higher in the sky, begins to
consolidate the snowpack. Nightly freeze-up allows
predators to move easily over its surface, using their
ears to detect prey beneath and leaving a record of
their activities for the following tracker. Join me to
read this nightly diary together. Snowshoes will
probably be needed; a few pairs will be available for
those without them. Sunglasses may also be needed.
Saturday, Mar 13 from 10am to 3pm. Please register
by March 8 using the blank on the registration page.
After that date call or e-mail first.
The sun, climbing higher in the sky, begins to
consolidate the snowpack. Nightly freeze-up allows
predators to move easily over its surface, using their
ears to detect prey beneath and leaving a record of
their activities for the following tracker. Join me to
read this nightly diary together. Snowshoes will
probably be needed; a few pairs will be available for
those without them. Sunglasses may also be needed.
Saturday, Mar 13 from 10am to 3pm. Please register
by March 8 using the blank on the registration page.
After that date call or e-mail first.
Quabbin Trails: Early spring tracking
Patchy remaining snow alternates with fresh, damp
earth. The smell of spring fills the woods. Evidence of
animal life hidden beneath the snow all winter is
exposed to the eyes of the attentive tracker. Come
along and search forest, field and pond for this record
of life hidden by the snow all winter long.
Saturday, April 10 from 10am to 3pm. Please
register by April 5, using the blank on the registration
page. After that date call or e-mail first
Patchy remaining snow alternates with fresh, damp
earth. The smell of spring fills the woods. Evidence of
animal life hidden beneath the snow all winter is
exposed to the eyes of the attentive tracker. Come
along and search forest, field and pond for this record
of life hidden by the snow all winter long.
Saturday, April 10 from 10am to 3pm. Please
register by April 5, using the blank on the registration
page. After that date call or e-mail first
Solution to the tracking problem on the Encounters page:
The 15 inch step-lengths, perfect direct registrations, oval tracks with the long
axis in the direction of travel and the very narrow straddle all point to a red fox
walking across the field. (Coyotes average about 22" step-lengths and gray
foxes about 9-14" with rounder, cat-like imprints.)
The fox visited the field to hunt for meadow voles, small mouse-like rodents that
spend the winter in tunnels at ground level under the snow. The fox detects
these prey animals by listening for the sound of their movement, which the fox
can hear even under a foot of snow.
The fox approaches the sound and triangulates it with head movements. Then
with its ears perked forward, tracking the vole's sounds, it crouches on its hind
feet and leaps high into the air, descending in a graceful arc to land with its front
feet punching down through the snow, followed by its muzzle. In its first plunge
neither its feet nor its muzzle managed to pin the vole so it tried again.In the last
photo you can see the full imprint of the fox's hind feet as it crouched before the
spring and the nose hole as it plunged its sharp muzzle into the snow.
axis in the direction of travel and the very narrow straddle all point to a red fox
walking across the field. (Coyotes average about 22" step-lengths and gray
foxes about 9-14" with rounder, cat-like imprints.)
The fox visited the field to hunt for meadow voles, small mouse-like rodents that
spend the winter in tunnels at ground level under the snow. The fox detects
these prey animals by listening for the sound of their movement, which the fox
can hear even under a foot of snow.
The fox approaches the sound and triangulates it with head movements. Then
with its ears perked forward, tracking the vole's sounds, it crouches on its hind
feet and leaps high into the air, descending in a graceful arc to land with its front
feet punching down through the snow, followed by its muzzle. In its first plunge
neither its feet nor its muzzle managed to pin the vole so it tried again.In the last
photo you can see the full imprint of the fox's hind feet as it crouched before the
spring and the nose hole as it plunged its sharp muzzle into the snow.
Not shown in the frames is the aftermath. The fox was unsuccessful
in its attempt on the vole. After the third try it left two galloping
patterns, either excited by the hunt or frustrated by it. After these
two patterns it settled back into its elegant, patient and methodical
walk.
in its attempt on the vole. After the third try it left two galloping
patterns, either excited by the hunt or frustrated by it. After these
two patterns it settled back into its elegant, patient and methodical
walk.