by Mandy DiMauro

Exchange Staff Reporter 

     Students from the Ecological Conscience Initiative ventured into the  woods surrounding FPC to track down signs of wildlife this past Friday, February 10^th.  

    This group known as the Ecological Conscience Initiative was started in 1998 and is a series of events and courses that emphasize the connection between people and the environment they live in, so they can minimize their negative effects and protect it for future generations 

     Led by Professor Catherine Owen Koning and Professor Rhine Singleton, interested students were invited to meet in front of Marcucella Hall to participate in a search of footprints and other signs of animals that may have passed through the area. 
 

     In her executive summary for the Ecological Conscience Initiative, Professor Koning described the ecological conscience as, “a collective awareness of the effects of our actions on all aspects of the ecological community, and a demonstrated respect for that community.”

     Prior to the venture, students were given a map of the trail they would be taking, as well as sheets of different types of footprints and the animals they belong to. These animals included deer, moose, bobcats, muskrats and weasels. The trail was made up of parts from the Red Trail and Place Trail. In addition to footprints, other signs of wildlife consisted are recognized by droppings, bark scratchings, and broken twigs.
 

     The group also found signs of the cottontail rabbit, which left footprints in the snow. This was followed by prints made by a crow and a feather that was left by either a turkey or a ruffed grouse. Signs of woodpeckers and skunks were recorded as well as numerous turkey footprints.
 

      “It’s good to see so many signs of turkeys because they were once very rare in this area,” said Koning. “This shows they are coming back.”
 

     Environmental Science major Emmy Andersen agreed with Koning. “This is just one of the many things we can learn from tracking animals in the wild,” said sophomore Andersen.
 

     These tracking walks usually take place once every winter, but can occur more often providing the conditions are right.  “Winter is a good time to see what animals are around, if there is snow,” said Koning.  “Other signs of animals – scat, feeding materials left behind, dens, scrapings – can be found year-round and provide evidence of the different animals species in the area, as well as indicating what habitats they use, what they eat, where they sleep, etc. Really excellent trackers can follow animals for some distance and ‘watch’ them track their prey, fight with competitors, seek mates, etc.”
 

      Students and faculty interested in going on any tracking walks or participating in any other environmental initiative activity can contact Professor Koning at KoningC@franklinpierce.edu.