Wildlife Identification & Tracking Level 4

Step into the world of wildlife tracking and start learning how to read the stories written across the landscape. This course is about slowing down, sharpening your eye for detail, and building real confidence in identifying land vertebrates—not just by what you see, but by the signs and sounds they leave behind. Tracks, trails, scats, feeding signs, resting places, movement patterns and vocalisations all form part of the picture, and we spend our time working with genuine examples found in the field. From the smallest rodent sign to the largest footprint, you’ll learn how to piece together clues to better understand how animals live, feed, communicate, and move through their environment.

Field time is central to the course, but what you encounter outdoors is supported and reinforced through access to our extensive teaching collections. Along the way you’ll gain hands-on experience using camera traps, ink traps, and small mammal live traps, allowing you to observe animals more closely and confirm what you’re finding on the ground. While much of our work focuses on the rich wildlife of our main sites, we also take field trips to other locations to broaden your experience and expose you to a wider range of habitats and species. By the end of the course, you’ll have a solid, practical understanding of wildlife identification and the confidence to interpret tracks, signs, and vocal cues in the field.

We immerse ourselves in the study of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, learning how to identify them through tracks, signs, sound, and sight. Topics include track identification, understanding gaits and movement patterns, and recognising the subtle details that distinguish similar species. You’ll explore feathers in depth—looking at their form, function, and role in identification—as well as skulls and bones to develop a stronger understanding of anatomy.

Part of the course focuses on vocalisation, particularly bird language but also the calls and sounds produced by other animals. You’ll learn how vocalisations can reveal presence, behaviour, and interactions within the wider landscape. Through guided exploration, you will investigate kill sites, scat, feeding signs, dens, and resting places, always working whenever possible with real-world examples The aim throughout is to develop a more holistic approach to tracking—bringing together visual observation, sound, context, and interpretation.

Combined with our Trailing Intensive course, this programme offers a comprehensive foundation in practical tracking skills.