The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has two surveys designed to track population trends in animals whose fur is valued commercially. Both furbearer surveys are run across much of Minnesota and the species encountered vary depending on where in the State the survey route is. It is valuable for 1854 to participate as a number of Band members actively pursue fisher and pine marten trapping each fall.

Scent Post Survey

The Scent Post Survey is run in early fall and consists of ten stations placed along gravel or dirt roads that serve as frequently traveled routes for many wildlife species. Grass, leaves, and gravel is cleared from a 3-foot diameter circle at each station. Fresh dirt is then sifted over the station as a good track medium and the center of each station is baited with a very smelly disc. The following day the route is checked and the tracks of visiting furbearers are identified and counted. 

Winter Track Survey 

The Winter Track Survey is conducted after a fresh snowfall and consists of a ten-mile route along a roadway or trail where furbearer tracks are identified and counted in each half-mile segment. Along the routes that 1854 coordinates, our most common visitors are fisher, pine marten, red fox, wolf, and coyote.

See the DNR's 2012 MINNESOTA SCENT POST AND WINTER TRACK SURVEY SUMMARY.

Tracks of the elusive Canada Lynx identifyed during Winter Track Survey