So You Want To Hunt The Yowie? - Part 3 - Research Resources

Now that you are acquainted with the basics of the Yowie Phenomena, it may be time to gain some skills that will help in the search and subsequent contact with the elusive creatures.

Primatology

Since there is some conjecture about the human/primate categorisation of the Yowie it would be advisable to do some reading on Primates. Luckily there has been much study done in this area and there are some good texts available that provide information on Primates, their behaviours, interacting with them and the study of them. The first reference below was recommended to me as an integrated approach to interacting with primates in the wild. The second reference might also be helpful, for example if you are considering such ethical issues as where to draw the line between non-invasive study and producing a body for dissection or as a voucher specimen. It is my personal opinion that the do no harm principle seems to be overlooked somewhat where discovery of new species is concerned and more stringently enforced for well recognised and/or endangered species.

Field and Laboratory Methods in Primatology: A Practical Guide

Edited by Deborah J. Curtis, Joanna M. Setchell

Cambridge University Press, Published 03/02/2011

http://www.cambridge.org/au/academic/subjects/life-sciences/biological-anthropology-and-primatology/field-and-laboratory-methods-primatology-practical-guide-2nd-edition

A couple of free-download chapters are linked below as a sampler.

Chapter 2 – Habituating Primates

http://www.cabrillo.edu/~malancraig/Articles/HabituatingPrimates.pdf

Chapter 16 – Recording Primate Vocalisations

http://www.zora.uzh.ch/58582/1/Proof_9780521194099c16_p287-304.pdf

Code of Best Practice for Field Primatology 2014

American Society of Primatologists

https://www.asp.org/resources/docs/Code%20of_Best_Practices%20Oct%202014.pdf

Field Work

When we do head into the field, how do we read the signs correctly? Well first we can become acquainted with what is known to be there so we can begin to...

 “prove what these signs are NOT before we can begin to consider what else they might be”.

DATA, DATA, DATA!
Some will undoubtedly say I am unqualified to comment but I'm just going to go ahead and say it anyway. The main problem I see in Cryptological Research is lack of data collection. No doubt you are familiar with all the new technological gadgets, advanced medical procedures and ever more realistic amusements that we now have. It may have escaped your notice that along the way, science and industry has also become extremely data centric. They can't get enough data. In fact if you don't load them up with enough data to bury them, professionals won't look twice at you let alone take you seriously.

If that's too much trouble then your choices are limited to just two that I am aware of:

1. Go hunting and get lucky by shooting one and lobbing the body on information desk at the Queensland Museum, or
2. Stomp around the bush like everyone else and completely waste your time.

I don't like those odds and I think we can all do a little better than that, so lets look at some resources that just might help us do a better job of data collection in the field.

Identifying Tracks, Scat and other Signs of Animal Behaviour

Since what we are dealing with is by all accounts a mammal that eats, leaves tracks and droppings around the place, we need to know how to differentiate the from those of other animals in the Australian bush. We also need to know how to collect samples, preserve them and make casts of perishable evidence like tracks. The resources below may help.

Tracks Scats & Other Traces A Field Guide to Australian Mammals Revised Ed

By Barbara Triggs

Oxford University Press, Published 01/09/2004

https://www.boffinsbooks.com.au/books/9780195550993/tracks-scats-and-other-traces-a-field-guide-to-australian-mammals-revised-ed

Casting of Tracks?

Plaster Track Casting Procedure, by Kim A. Cabrera

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/Track_casting_382484_7.pdf

Making Plaster Casts of Animal Tracks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmTxNia_WXc

Casting Foot Impressions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCuM4WjJbhI

Collection and Analysis of Scat

Scat can be examined to determine the diet of the animal and this may also include DNA testing. Since the characteristics of the scat can help identify a known animal or indicate an unknown one, preservation of scat should be considered. Below are some example protocols for scat collection.

Pika Scat Collection Protocol

http://www.pikapartners.org/WebContent/WS/FRPP/PDFs/Scat%20Collection%20Protocol.pdf
Fox Scat Collection Protocol

http://www.bushcarebluemountains.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Fox-Scat-Collection-Protocol-Kit.pdf

Hair – Collecting Samples for Species Identification

Collection of hair is not as definitive as fingerprinting in that it cannot identify a specific individual. It can, however, be used to identify one species relative to another. This is a well established field and below are some written resources for information. In a later post I will take a look at equipment and software resources.

Non-invasive Survey Methods for Carnivores, Chapter 6 – Hair Collection
(discusses use of hair traps)

http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/files/norock/products/2008_06_27_HairCollectionBookChapter_lowres.pdf

Fundamentals of Microanalytical Entomology : A Practical Guide to Detecting and Identifying Filth in Foods. (Chapter 12 – Hair and Feathers)
Alan R. Olsen
Taylor & Francis Inc, 17/10/1995
https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Fundamentals_of_Microanalytical_Entomolo.html?id=NMiVQoTakeoC&redir_esc=y

Microscopy of Hairs, A Practical Guide and Manual, Issue 2 January 1977
John W Hicks (Special Agent)
Federal Bureau of Investigation
https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/78957NCJRS.pdf

Audio Recording of Wildlife Calls and Vocalisations

Since the Yowie and his international cousins seem to be predominantly nocturnal, listening to the calls they make seems like a good way to keep track of them. It is therefore very important to know what calls all the other animals make as well so we do not get excited for no reason or make a false identification through ignorance.

The available resources in this area are significant so rather than try to pick through them all I have listed  a single free-download introductory reference and some websites that already provide lots of information. You should consider becoming familiar with the various calls of birds, frogs, reptiles and mammals because at night when you can't see that noise is often not what you think it is.

An Introduction to Wildlife Sound Recording Rev1 May2001 
Wildlife Sound Recording Society
http://www.wildlife-sound.org/equipment/introa5.pdf

 Wildlife Sound Recording Society (UK) – Resources page.
http://www.wildlife-sound.org/equipment/index.html

The Australian Wildlife Sound Recording Group – Resources Page
http://awsrg.org.au/australian-wildlife-sound-recording-resources/


Until next time....