Summer field season 2012

This summer was an extremely productive one at Mt Rainier National Park and on the William O Douglas Wilderness. A full-time of six wildlife biologists worked tirelessly from August through the rains and snow of fall in the mountains. Approximately 200 putative Cascade red fox scats were collected and will be analyzed in 2013. We detected foxes photographically on two occasions at Mt. Rainier.

What is it?

Tail?

Little bit more...

The whole critter: red morph Cascade red fox on Mt. Adams

Denise and Jocelyn headed up the south side of Mt Adams today to take down some of the remaining cameras from the winter season in anticipation of summer surveys that begin at the end of the month. We received some great photos, including this red fox that has been visiting the area since last October.

Below are shots of a Black-tailed deer fawn (hard to see shot but cute none the less) and two coyotes together in a photograph taking in mid-April; this is a first for the project.

More fox photos on Mt Hood

Heading up to Mt Hood to take-down cameras today in anticipation of summer surveys in Washington, we collected the memory cards from our two cameras. We have some new photos of a black-morph mountain red fox. This appears to be the same individual as that detected during our last camera check. We will return to Mt Hood in a month, once the snow melts some more, to collect fox scats along trails near our detections and those of Cascadia Wild. We hope these samples, once the DNA is extracted and analyzed, will confirm the native ancestry of mountain foxes in Oregon remains intact and has not been mixed with non-native lowland foxes moving into mountain red fox habitat.

Seeking part-time volunteer crew member

Join our 2012 Summer Crew and gain valuable professional wildlife research experience on a long-term monitoring project for forest carnivores in the Cascade Range. We are conducting non-invasive carnivore surveys at Mt Rainier National Park and on the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest this summer through Nov.2. To apply, send a letter highlighting how you specifically meet the qualifications and duties of the position to Jocelyn Akins at jakins@ucdavis.edu. Please put the position title in the subject line.

PART-TIME CREW MEMBER

This position will primarily involve diet analysis of carnivore scats and data entry, and will include some field duties.

Compensation: none, worker’s compensation will be provided.

Schedule: Flexible.

Locations: Hood River, Oregon; Trout Lake, Washington; Gifford Pinchot National Forest; Mt. Rainier National Park.

Details: The position will provide excellent experience in wildlife research.  Office duties include but are not limited to data entry, scat cleaning, sample and photo cataloging, and errands. Field work will involve working at mid and high elevation sites in the southern Washington Cascade Range, and may include conducting trail transects to collect genetic samples, habitat data, and presence information on the Cascade red fox and wolverine; as well as setting and checking remote camera stations; backpacking and camping. This part of the position is rewarding but extremely strenuous and demanding. You will be expected to hike daily 15 to 20 miles. You must be in strong physical fitness.

Qualifications:
• Experience on wildlife field studies.
• Proficient with navigation with GPS, map, and compass.
• Physically fit; able to hike 20 miles every day.
• Own a reliable vehicle that you are willing to use for field-work.

To join the field crew, you will need your own vehicle, tent, sleeping bag, and other personal backpacking gear. The field conditions are often snowy, rainy, warm, and extremely cold.

Join our summer field crew.

I am excited to announce that we have received many fine applications, and are current assembling a crack team of wildlife biologists to run the show this summer. I anticipate a productive season on poo collection, and hopefully some glimpses of Wildy and the mountain foxes. We are still looking for a couple folks to begin in July so if you are a good fit for the job (description below), please apply by sending a letter highlighting how you specifically meet the qualifications and duties of the position to Jocelyn Akins at jakins@ucdavis.edu.  

Mountain Red Fox and Wolverine FIELD CREW LEADER 
One month minimum commitment.

Compensation: none, worker’s compensation will be provided.

Schedule: Work for just over 4 months on a 10-day ON, 4 day OFF schedule.

Locations: Gifford Pinchot and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests, and Mt. Rainier National Park.

Details: We are looking for seasoned wildlife biologists to make a short-term commitment to this long-term conservation genetics study of the Cascade red fox and wolverine in the Cascade Range. There are opportunities for experienced applicants to be involved with project planning and data analysis including occupancy modeling and landscape genetics analysis. The position will provide excellent experience for graduate school. Work will be conducted at mid and high elevation sites in the southern Washington Cascade Range. The terrain is rugged and gorgeous. The work is rewarding but extremely strenuous and demanding. You will be expected to hike daily 15 to 20 miles for 10 days straight and carry a heavy backpack. You must be in strong physical fitness. We cannot accept anyone who is not currently in top physical condition and able to trudge long distances.

Duties: Conduct trail transects to collect genetic samples, habitat data, and presence information on the Cascade red fox and wolverine. Set and check remote camera stations. Backpack and camp. Office duties including but not limited to conducting field surveys, project planning, scheduling, and data analysis.

Qualifications:
• Experience on at least 2 Carnivora field studies.
• Very proficient with navigation with GPS, map, and compass.
• Crew leadership experience.
• Physically fit; able to hike 20 miles every day.
• Own reliable, personal vehicle.

The conditions are often warm, buggy, snowy, rainy, and extremely cold. So you need to bring appropriate personal field gear:
• FULLY waterproof rain jacket
• FULLY waterproof ski pants
• comfortable hiking boots
• tent and sleeping bag
• all the under layers • all other personal gear that you can think of

Accommodation: Backpacking and camping, backcountry cabins, NPS and USFS bunkhouses.

Transportation: You must have your own personal vehicle. Mileage will be reimbursed.

New mountain fox photos from Mt Hood

The crew checked one of our Mt Hood stations today and we had a fox visitor on May.27.2012. This black-morph mountain red fox is a different individual from the red-morph mountain red fox that we detected at a neighboring station on April.24.2012 (see May.4.2012 post). Black-phase mountain red fox have also been detected at two Cascadia Wild stations on Mt Hood (photos below).

Series of montane red fox detections on Mt Hood, Oregon

These photos are the latest in a series of recent detections on the south side of Mt Hood, Oregon by Cascadia Wild and the Cascades Carnivore Project in cooperation with the Mt Hood National Forest. In addition to a black-phase fox photographed by Jon Dierickx in 2011, this red-phase fox and a black-phase fox detected in March, 2012 mark the first detections of montane red foxes in northern Oregon in many decades. Mt Hood, Crater Lake, and the Siskiyou Mountains are the only locations where montane red foxes are known to occur in Oregon. If you have seen a fox in the mountains of Oregon or Washington, please send me a line.

Photo of the day: Cascade red fox pup at Mt Rainier

Photo: Logan Volkmann, Simon Fraser University

CCP has an immediate opening for a full-time volunteer!

Cascade Red Fox and Wolverine Snow Tracking Volunteer Position

The Cascades Carnivore Project has an immediate six-week volunteer opening for an extremely fit field member.

Qualifications: high physical fitness, advanced snowmobile rider

Dates: Feb.13 to March.27

Duties: Following Cascade red fox and wolverine tracks in snow. Setting and checking wildlife camera stations. Collect genetic samples including scat, hair, urine, and roadkill. Operating a snowmobile 3+ hours a day. Snowshoing up to 10 miles a day. Office duties including project planning, data entry, data analysis, and photo cataloging.

Accommodation: Mt Adams Ranger Stations in Trout Lake, WA; at remote field cabin; possible winter camping.

Transportation: work truck, trailer, and 2 snowmobiles. Applicant must have personal vehicle to get to and from study area.

Details:
The work is extremely strenuous and demanding. You will be expected to snowshoe up to 10 mile a day and snowmobile 3+ hours a day. You must be in strong physical fitness. We can not accept anyone who is not currently in top physical condition and able to trudge long distances in deep snow.The conditions are often snowy, rainy, warm, and extremely cold. So you need to bring appropriate personal field gear:

* FULLY waterproof rain jacket or parka,
* FULLY waterproof ski pants
* waterproof, insulated winter boots for snowshoeing (not hiking boots)
* big, high quality winter mitt
* very warm winter hat
* neck gaiter
* all the under layers
* all other personal gear that you can think of

If you are interested in the position, please email Project Coordinator, Jocelyn Akins at cascadescarnivore@gmail.com, detailing how you meet the qualifications. Please send a recent photo of yourself. No phone calls please.