Wolf Inquiry Project Seeks Volunteers, May 30 The Wolf Inquiry Project, an independnet citizen science project that is proactively investigating Maine's north woods for the presence of gray wolf, seeks volunteers for field research and administrative assistance. An information and training session for new volunteers will be held on Saturday, May 30th at Maine Audubon’s Fields Pond Center in Holden from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The hands-on workshop for new volunteers will train participants in the use of digital audio recording equipment and field techniques to effectivel conduct “howling surveys”. Additionally, participants will be trained in the use of remote digital cameras. Project protocol, data collection, and other documentation methods will be reviewed. Mark McCoullough, a biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, will speak on the status of gray wolf, nationally and in the northeast. Conservation biologist, Geri Vistein, will engage participants in an interactive learning experience about coyotes, as these wild canids will be “communicating” most frequently with Wolf Inquiry Project volunteers. Project Director, Laura Sebastianelli, adds, “What we learn about eastern coyote vocalizations is an important piece of our research. In using spectrograph analyis we need to learn more about differentitating between coyote, wolf, and other canids. For instance, will the fact that eastern coyotes are larger than western coyotes make distinguishing between species more difficult here than it has been in the west? These are just a few of the related questions we hope to learn more about in our research to investigate the presence of gray wolf in Maine.” Piloted in the summer of 2008, The Wolf Inquiry Project, is made possible through support and partnerships with Wildlife Alliance of Maine, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Audubon, Maine Earth Institute, private donations and many dedicated volunteers. Participation is open to all and volnteers are needed both in field and office. Some fuel assistance is availabe to volunteers conducting field work. To RSVP, or for additional information, please contact Laura Sebastianelli at wolfinquiryproject@hotmail.com, or 207-350-9535.

Posted on Thursday, May 14, 2009 (Archive on Saturday, June 13, 2009) Posted by Jym St. Pierre   Contributed by