Trailing Weekend

In partnership with Cybertracker North America, Parry Sound Forest School is offering,

Introduction to Trailing

A professional-level wildlife tracking certification and training.

September 12 & 13

Learn to follow tracks through landscapes with the purpose of finding and observing the animal(s) that made them—while remaining undetected.

Trailing builds knowledge of wildlife and local landscapes, confidence to follow trail in difficult conditions, heightened awareness and stealth, and an ability to move quietly cross-country in small teams.

Learn more about Cybertracker North America HERE

The Introductory Trailing Workshop occurs over two days. Each day consists of both conceptual discussions and field exercises.

Topics include:

  • Finding good trailing locations and how to “cut for tracks” to follow

  • Aging spoor and recognizing fresh tracks

  • Following a trail with proper form

  • Relocating a trail after losing it

  • Stealth, alarm calls and animal communication, and wind movement

  • Hazards of the landscape

  • The history of CyberTracker and what to expect at a Trailing Evaluation

 Matt inspecting the track of a male African lion in Makalale reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park.

Matt Nelson,

Track and Sign Evaluator, Senior Tracker

Matt Nelson is a Track & Sign Evaluator and Senior Tracker with CyberTracker Conservation, specializing in developing wildlife tracking and field skills. With a deep-rooted passion for naturalism, Matt trains biologists, students, and employees from state, federal, and tribal agencies, as well as the general public, to accurately interpret wildlife sign and behavior.

His work spans a wide range of conservation and research projects, including mountain lion studies in North America, carnivore tracking programs in Wisconsin, and efforts with the Saola Foundation to train trackers in the mountains of Laos to locate rare species. In addition, Matt has contributed to numerous environmental initiatives, such as steelhead and salmon surveys with the Gualala River Watershed Council, hog removal efforts for UC Berkeley, and forestry projects aimed at identifying wildlife trees.

Known for his practical expertise and dedication to field-based learning, Matt helps others hone their skills in tracking, ensuring the future of wildlife conservation and management. Whether in search and rescue, research, or ecological restoration, Matt’s diverse experience makes him a respected leader in the field of wildlife tracking.