Organizer. Gabrielle FrankeLocation. Silver Falls State Park (located east of Salem, Oregon).
Purpose. Assist the state park naturalist by gathering systematic information on the distribution of black bear and cougar in the park.
Participants. Volunteer trackers from Salem, Corvallis, and Portland.
The results of each census are compiled in a summary document. The routes traveled and the
location of black bear or cougar sign (plus other forest carnivore of interest) are marked
on topographical maps. Methodology.
On the day of the census, teams of 2-4 trackers walk designated routes,
covering as much of the park as possible given the available manpower. Trackers mark
the location of animal sign on a map and record key track and gait measurements following
a protocol adapted from the work of James Halfpenny.
