I guess it's time to switch from tropics to boreal again. We've just
returned from the 3rd annual winter tracking survey in the Thunder fire
area. This is actually our 2nd trip for this year, we managed to get in
there for a 5 day trip in January too. In lieu of providing the day-to-day
observations, I'll give this as a comparative summary of what we've found
over the last 3 years and 5 winter trips.
Highlights of Feb 1997 trip. We encountered fresh(24hr) lynx
tracks several days into the trip and were able to track this animal for
approx 8 miles over 2 days. This was a tremendous opportunity to learn
about this animals hunting/foraging and traveling behavior. Note that this
is a "non-invasive" observation in that we did not influence the behavior
by our presence. Travel behavior is characterized by a regular, directed
gait through an area. Lynx generally move at a walk, fast walk or trot
when travelling, all of which can be distinguished by track patterns. In
contrast, when foraging, lynx explore and meander through an area,
generally associated with presence of hare tracks. Hunts/chases/kills are
self-explanatory and very exciting to come across.
This animal was first located on the west extremity of the fire in
an old-growth lodgepole stand. Tracks encircled most trees indicating a
foraging behavior. This stand is an open park-like lodgepole type
stand-most trees have branches touching the snow. In our experience, we
find lots of hare tracks in this type of forest (apparently the lunx has
made the same observation). There was no evidence of an actual hunt in
this stand and the lynx then travelled through a series of small open
meadows and dense lodgepole stands for approx 2 miles. All was directed
travel, there was no foraging or hunting activity, or indication that it
had stopped at any point.
the upper portions of the drainage are a mosaic of bogs, meadows
and both high intensity and unburned areas. They are always rich in
wildlife and we have always found lots of hare and squirrel tracks here.
The forest type is primarily spruce with some fir and lodgepole
intermixed. At this point the lynx started actively foraging. Every tree
well of a spruce was explored. There was evidence of one short chase
through a tree well (3 bounds-no catch) and then continuation with
foraging. It was quite challenging to follow the tracks through the area
due to multiple circle backs, cross-overs etc. Finally the lynx abandoned
this area and travelled at the edge of the high intensity burn to another
spruce meadow. There I encountered the longest chase I've seen to date.
Usually after 5 or 6 bounds with no success the lynx gives up. This cat
went about 500 M at an all out gallop with some moves that would put a
barrelracing pony to shame. There was some indication that it had at least
contacted a hare and for awhile the tracks seemed deeper as if it was
carrying a hare. then it started its traveling gait again and continued
down the hill towards the main meadow, through dense lodgpole stands and
contoured around the hill for over 3 miles. There was never any evidence
of further foraging activity of hunting.
A couple of comments on lynx behavior from the above and from the
last 4 years of tracking. Most of the active hunting behavior we see is in
these semi-open oldgrowth meadows with a heavy spruce component. We have
good documentation of this for 5 different locations. Of interest, this is
the environment where we also see a high density of hare tracks in the
winter. Lynx travel quite happily through the high intensity burns. Lynx
like to travel through dense lodgepole but do not hunt there. And in 5
years and approx 20 miles of following lynx tracks, we have never followed
one for any distance on a ridgetop. They follow a contour about 200 ft
above riparian areas and chose appropriate forest types to ascend or
descend, depending on whether they are foraging or traveling. I mention
this only because the "management guidelines" for lynx call for protection
of ridgetop corridors for travel, and stand conversion to young lodgepole
(eg clearcutting mature lodgepole stands) to provide for foraging areas.

Birds: We saw very few birds in january and more numbers but not
species in Feb. Similar to last year, there are still three-toed, black
back and hairy woodpeckers in the area. The relative numbers are 15:2:4
for these species.The # of black-back sightings are definetly decreasing.
I did get to watch an interesting display of a 3-toed. This bird was
busily drumming at the very top of a hollow lodgpeole snag (approx 15'
high). In between drumming it would furiously preen and then continue
drumming. there was a responding drumming in the distance. After about
20', the bird flew to another tree and began to feed. This reminded me of
the Three-toed behavior we observed on our first winter trip into Thunder.
On that occassion, the responding bird actually appeared and the 2 birds
flew off together.
Mt, chickadees, RB nuthatches are constant winter friends, and did
not dissapoint us this year. Boreal chickadees were subjectively less
commonly encountered then last year (they were are most common bird last
year) but we still found quite a few little flocks. We also found 2 brown
creepers. Grouse are very numerous in the burn. I crossed 18 sets of
tracks in 1 hr on one occassion. I also flushed several one nite when I
went out to do wolf surveys, not realizing they were roosting overhead.
Grouse tracks were unusually common this year around the tree balls of
blown-down trees. I finally realized that they were using the exposed dirt
for grit.Our great horned owls made a vocal appearance one nite. Finally,
it's interesting that folks have noted early raptor migrations this year.
I saw 1 coopers hawk fly overhead on 2 occasions on a nice sunny day.

Other critters:
Small critters are increasing, based on frequency of track
observation. We noted this last summer as well, based on actually seeing
the critters. I can't distinguish voles, shrews. lemmings and mice by
tracks, so they are grouped-sorry. weasel tracks are also on the increase.
I have another great hunting story between weasel and mouse, but I'll
spare you the details.

Summary (Brief): Lynx are still present in areas in the south west section
of the fire-consistent tracks for 3 years in this area). Coyot es are
increasing as a function of the increased illegal snowmobiel activty in
the area. Black-back woodpeckers seem to be declining in number.
Three-toed populations may be off somewhat, but they are still the most
common. This is the 2nd year we've seen hairy's-can't make a statement
about numbers. Grouse are common. small mammals are increasing in number.
Weasels outnumber marten tracks-marten appear to be locally common in and
around every drainage. Marten and weasel tracks are found in the same
habitats. Boreal chickadees were present again in good numbers for the 2nd
year in a row.
That's probably more than enough. We are planning several
workshops and outings in Thunder again this year,w hich I will post both
on Tweeters and on the WeB page. I really apprecitate all of the support
and interest on this project from folks, whether motivated by 'R' or 'C'.
Perhaps we should just lump it all as "learning."

Mary Poss
Department of Microbiology
Box 357242
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
mposs at u.washington.edu