Reframing Scat & Stepping on Elk

“Whoa! What is that!?” exclaimed Dustin as he walked by an area I had passed just moments before. As I turned around and walked towards him, I noticed glistening light brown fur sprinkled with white spots just beneath the tall grass.

The brown mound of fur was an elk calf, probably no more than a day or two old. I had missed stepping on it by no more than a foot. Since beginning my project placement this summer, I have had to learn to see animal sign (and animals in general) while hiking between data collection points. Situational awareness in the field is perhaps one of the most valuable skills I have learned through my project placement.

Reflective Blog Post #1: Culturally Connecting to the Natural World

 

A snapshot of my first six weeks interning with Earthwatch in Waterton Lakes National Park.

Oki Tsanitapi. In English, this Blackfoot greeting translates to ‘hello, how are you?’ However, when left in context, the salutation means so much more. The ‘ni’ in Tsanitapi relates to tethering while ‘tapi’ relates to the Universe. Therefore, greeting someone with this phrase is to ask, ‘How is your connection with the Universe today?’ Learning about the spiritual and historical meaning of this greeting from Dustin Fox, one of the Kainai field technicians on the project, on the drive from Calgary to WLNP was my first glimpse of Kainai culture.

Trophic Cascades, Wildfire, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Waterton Lakes National Park

This past year as a master’s student in the Environmental Conservation program at UW-Madison has passed in the blink of an eye. In April, I began working on my capstone project with the Earthwatch Institute in Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP). Earthwatch sponsors expeditions around the world focused on connecting people with nature, empowering local communities, and supporting conservation research, among other objectives. On the Earthwatch website, this project is titled Restoring Fire, Wolves, and Bison to the Canadian Rockies.