About the event

In this popular one-day Foundation Course, expert tracker Bob Cowley will introduce you to all the most common Mammal Tracks and Signs that you might come across when walking in the British countryside, revealing the wildlife with which we share our space. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced naturalist, this course will open your eyes to the wide range of Tracks and Signs in the world around you, and provide you with a systematic approach to interpreting them correctly. Bob will use an innovative combination of PowerPoint presentations together with the study of actual specimens from the Museum collection to help you visualise and associate the different animals with their different tracks.

Bob is also well known for the range of useful verbal mnemonics and visual tricks that he has devised to ensure that all the important information will stick in your mind long after the course has ended. Finally, Bob will lead a guided walk to show you how to find and interpret examples in the real world.

A CPD certificate will be available on completion of the course.

Entry level: This event can be attended by people who have little to no pre-existing knowledge of the topic and wish to develop an initial understanding.

This workshop is run in support of the Mammal Society with all proceeds going to support their conservation work.

Refreshments- No. Attendees are asked to make their own arrangements for lunch. The Museum has a well-stocked café with a range of fresh food available.

For more details about the day and to book your place, visit the event website

About the instructor

Bob Cowley has always been fascinated by the Tracks & Signs that animals leave behind as evidence of their presence. And since the International Tracker Certification scheme (also known as CyberTracker) reached the UK in 2012, Bob has been one of its most active participants and advocates. He is now one of the few 'Level 3 Trackers' in Europe, having been certified at that level in both the tracking disciplines, 'Track and Sign' and 'Trailing'.

As well as learning all he can about this neglected ancient skill, Bob is equally committed to passing on that knowledge. A good understanding of 'Track and Sign' is an invaluable asset for any professional ecologist, zoological researcher or student, as well as being an excellent way of connecting people to the wildlife that lives around them.

In addition to the Mammal Society, Bob has led workshops for a variety of other local and national organisations, including the Field Studies Council, the Woodland Trust, and Oxford University. He has also been an invited speaker at the International Tracking Symposium every year since its inception in 2022, and is in daily contact with other elite trackers from all over the world.

Bob has been involved in the Oxfordshire Mammal Group since its formation in 2014, currently serving as Vice Chair. He has been particularly involved with OxMG’s outreach and education work, organising public talks, both in-person and online, and establishing a dedicated YouTube channel to enable the talks to reach a wider (indeed world-wide) audience.

Accessibility information

For more information, please visit our accessibility webpage.