COUGAR ECOLOGY VERIFICATIONSeminar for the Curious: Naturalists, Ecologists, Outdoor Enthusiasts Registration Fee $150

December 4 & 5 Whitewater, Wisconsin

• Cougar • Mountain L ion • Puma • Painter • Panther • Catamount: al l the same

Sponsored byA Naturalist’s World & University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Secretive, elusive, the creature of myths and rumors, and capable of killing people, cougars stir our imagination, curiosity, and fear. Improve your knowledge about cougars, their presence, dangers, and management. The instructor, Dr. James Halfpenny, will also cover cougar ecology and how cougars interact at the human interface. If you are interested in, or encounter any of the situations below, then this is the workshop for you.

This workshop will provide the knowledge and skills needed to accurately identify and document signs of cougars, dogs, lynx, wolves, and other rare carnivores. You won’t leave empty handed. This two-day workshop will provide you with extensive handouts and plaster casts of carnivore footprints you make during the laboratories. Also, Dr. Halfpenny will have his books and plastic carnivore footprint collections for sale.

Dates and LocationsDecember 4 & 5, 2010The workshop will be at UW-Whitewater, Upham Hall, Room 140

Directions will be sent upon registration and are available at www.uww.edu/maps

• Population Biology• Behavior and Ecology• Cougar / Human Interactions• Cougar Pet Trade• Locating Tracks and Signs on the Trail• Identifying Footprints• Verifying Presence• Collecting Quality Evidence• Determining Sex and Size of Animals• Gaits and Reading Stories

Instructor Dr. James C. Halfpenny (A Naturalist’s World) is one of the world’s foremost experts on finding rare carnivore species. His work on Human/Mountain Lion encounters is featured in A Beast in the Garden by David Baron and the November 2003 Reader’s Digest. This professional-level workshop is designed for finding and documenting the signs of rare carnivore species, not just cougars. The focus will be cougars and differentiating their sign from those signs of other species, wild and domestic. Emphasis will be placed on collecting and preserving quality evidence to document the field track scene and facilitate analysis.

Biographical Sketch Dr. James C. Halfpenny, Ph.D., President of A Naturalist's World, tracker, carnivore ecologist, educator, and writer. Jim is author of many books and videos including Tracking Cougars: The Basics, A Field Guide to Mammal Tracking, Tracking: Mastering the Basics, Tracking Elk for Hunters, Yellowstone Bears in the Wild, Yellowstone Wolves in the Wild, Scats and Tracks Regional Series, and Winter: An Ecological Handbook, among others. See www.tracknature.com for more information. Jim specializes in finding signs of cougars, lynx, bears, wolves, wolverine and other carnivores. He trains professionals on a worldwide basis in the skills of finding carnivores. Dr. Halfpenny knows what level of skills it takes to find signs that will "stand up in a court of law." Jim will share his personal experience and pass on valuable tracking skills that have helped him locate mountain lions.

Cost & Details Cost is $150 for both days and includes handouts and plaster casting supplies. The program is designed for and limited to 40 participants with 20 per laboratory. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Lunch breaks are one hour and you may wish to bring a sack lunch. Each participant will receive extensive handouts and certificate of completion, but might also want to bring a notebook for writing. Cameras may be used to copy some displays and materials.

Contacts

Jim Halfpenny, Ph.D.A Naturalist’s Worldwww.tracknature.com (406) 848-9458PO Box 989Gardiner, MT 59030

UWW Continuing Education

1-800-621-5376 or (262) 472-1003800 West Main StreetWhitewater, WI 53190

Dr. James C. Halfpenny

Name HomeAddress

City State Zip

DayPhone/Cell HomePhone

E-mail

SpecialNeeds/Comments

$ Amountenclosed($150).MakecheckspayabletoUW-WhitewaterorpaybyMasterCardorVisa.

Card# Exp.Date NameonCard

Mailto:CougarEcologyandVerification,UW-Whitewater,ContinuingEducation,RosemanBldg.Rm.2017C,800WestMainSt.,Whitewater,WI53190.ToregisterbyphoneusingMasterCardorVisa,call1-800-621-5376(Monday-Friday,7:45a.m.-4:15p.m.)Fax:262-472-5210Questions:emailbehlket@uww.eduorcall262-472-1003andaskforTerryBehlke.

IunderstandthattheUniversitymaytakephotographsand/orvideosofcampparticipantsandactivities.IagreethattheUniversityofWisconsin-Whitewatershallbetheownerofandmayusesuchphotographsand/orvideosrelatingtothepromotionoffuturecamps.IrelinquishallrightsthatImayclaiminrelationtouseofsaidphotographsand/orvideos.

Signature Date

Schedule:(variable depending on number of participants, and whims of instructor)Day 1 – Setting the Stage: The Cougar from Myth to Reality 8:00 - Registration and Introductions - Ecology Morning Lectures The Gestalt: Ecology and Verification Cougars: Biology, Ecology, and Behavior Afternoon Lectures Cougars and People: Pets Cougars and People: Confrontation Cougars and People: The Neighborhood and Confrontation Time Line Trails: Carnivore Gaits, Behavioral Stories, and BloodDay 2 – Track Scene Identification: Field Knowledge and Skills 9:00 - Programs Start Morning Lectures and Laboratories Footprints: Clues, Criteria, and Measurements Signs: Scats, Burials, and Sounds Lab A - Footprint Interpretation and Track Preservation Lab B - Cougars in Wisconsin: Research, Laws, and Management Afternoon Lecture and Laboratories Predation: Events, Signs, and Case Studies Lab A - Cougars in Wisconsin: Research, Laws, and Management Lab B - Footprint Interpretation and Track Preservation