ESP Biography

Conservation biologists work to understand why some species are “endangered” while other species living in the same area are thriving. This class will explore what being endangered means, what we know makes a species more likely to be endangered and the kinds of ideas that conservation biologists are using to protect species from becoming extinct.

As much as many of us want to see wildlife when we go for a walk, animals are often secretive and hard to spot. However, as animals move they leave behind tracks that can be found and interpreted by the observant tracker. In this class we will talk about how to identify tracks from bay-area species like coyote, bobcat, deer, raccoon and others. In addition to tracks, I will also talk about how a group of tracks can be taken together to interpret how the animal was moving and observing the environment from its perspective. Additionally, we will also discuss remaining aware of “sign” (e.g. chewed vegetation and bird calls) and how to hone your skills in urban areas.