Upcoming class offers animal, bird tracking tips

On Saturday, Jan. 11, Libby Hostel will be sponsoring an animal and bird tracking class beginning at 9 a.m. Mountain Time.

The group will gather at the Kootenai Mercantile building, 316 California Ave., and enjoy a practical classroom lecture, which will take approximately 45 minutes on the topics of spotting wildlife, and observing and identifying tracks and sign of local mammals and birds. There will be a series of handouts for all who attend the class.

The group will then head to private land field loca-tions where they will take short hikes of less than one mile round trip to interpret tracks and sign. The participants will also be visiting some roadside stop and hop areas to scan for wildlife and examine tracking scenarios. Class will wrap up 3 p.m.

Folks are asked to come prepared for a field day, dressed properly for conditions, with hats, gloves, winter boots, snow-shoes, ski or trekking poles, lunch, water, and snacks. Additionally, group members should come with full gas tanks, bin-oculars, cameras, a measuring tape, and a pocket field guide. Participants are asked to pay a minimal fee of thirty dollars per person payable to the sponsoring group.

Libby, Mont., is a strikingly beautiful area in the wintertime, full of friendly folks and a strong community spirit. Tour leader Brian Baxter has education and extensive field experience in wildlife research involving Canadian lynx, wolverine, fisher, pine marten, and birds of prey such as Boreal owls, and Goshawks.

For more information and to sign up please contact Brian Baxter via email at b_baxter53@yahoo.com or call 406-291-2154.