Wolverine

Volunteers will have the opportunity to assist in a more thorough documentation of wolverine, lynx, and other carnivore populations on the Gallatin and Helena National Forests.

The primary objective of this project is to identify as many individual wolverines and lynx as possible, through the collection of DNA samples.  A secondary objective is to document habitat use patterns and travel routes.  Three methods of data collection will be used: 

1) back-tracking of wolverine and lynx trails, to search for and collect scat and hair samples, and to document  travel routes and behaviors; 2) hair-snaring devices that will be set up and monitored in backcountry locations; 3) Remote Sensor Camera Trapping.  

Volunteers must be skilled in winter backcountry travel and survival, avalanche awareness, map-reading, and route-finding.  Opportunities for adventurers/backcountry enthusiasts include:  1) conduct single day or multi-day back-tracking sessions on lynx/wolverine trails, as a solo or group effort; 2) assist Wild Things Unlimited (WTU) and ASC biologists in set up or monitoring of hair-snaring stations; or 3) commit to setting up and monitoring one or more hair-snaring stations on your own, after receiving training from ASC.

By providing valuable information on the numbers, distributions, and behavior of wolverines, this project will assist wildlife and land managers, as well as conservation organizations, in efforts to conserve wolverines and lynx and their habitat in the Rocky Mountains.

Sorry but this trip is currently full