ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATIVE EXPERT WITNESS & LEGAL CONSULTING

We provide Animal and Human Tracking Forensics, which is the application of the science of tracking (spoorology) to law enforcement investigations, patrolling duties, and legal cases involving animal and human scientific questions in bush areas. We use scientific tracking-related behavior collection procedures to investigate animal-related crimes in the bush involving unknown and unobserved (spoor) tracks and signs, lost trails for animal and human recovery, and animal and human kill-site reconstruction as to criminal behavioral Observation, Classification, and Identification of Spoor Evidence (OCISE).

​

As a subject matter expert in the field of animal and human tracking forensics and animal and human behavioral psychology in footfall evidence. We focus on animal and human behaviors and their social relationships within and without a group. Thus, any biological entity and its relationships to humans. Our motto, "Helping nature with human problems--step by step" stems from Cmdr. Cunningham's work within the federal government. We, therefore, continue to research animal behavior conspecifics, and heterospecifics with human behavior to isolate criminal culpability in enforcement. Cmdr. Cunningham created and pioneered the science of spoorology (track and trackway forensics of animals and humans).  

​

Our approaches to research in spoorology (animal/human tracking forensics) stem from the following sciences or are an amalgamation of the following sciences: 

 

Anthropology (humans in an environment under stress).

Ecology (relationships between animals, humans, and physical environment). 

Psychology (animal/human behavior stemming from brain, body, and action-bound traits).

Physiology (animal/human biomechanics).

Neoichnology (traces that living animals/humans produce while engaged in a variety of behaviors under known environmental conditions).

 

ANIMAL & HUMAN TRACKING FORENSICS

 

An INSTINCT is an inborn adaptive response to a stimulus in an environment. It is carried out by the nervous system as a result of genetics. This type of behavior is a complex and species-specific pattern of activity. Thus, inborn motivation to action is based on environmental input from surroundings.

​

IMPRINTING is a type of innate learning that enables animals and humans to develop behavioral patterns related to socializing and surviving specific to their species.

​

CONDITIONING is a behavioral process whereby a response becomes more frequent or more predictable in a given environment as a result of reinforcement, with reinforcement typically being a stimulus or reward for a desired response.

 

IMITATION is a copying of behavior. We study imitation via its adaptive value for the survival of an organism, and the mechanisms responsible for imitation.

​

TRACK/TRACKWAY/SIGN (SPOOR) EVIDENCE  is either a single track produced by the limb of an organism (animal/human) during locomotion, or an assemblage of tracks produced by one or more organisms (animal/human) via multiple limbs during locomotion; with animal communication, predation, defense, aggression, mating, imprinting, fixed action patterns and releasers, and migration. Also, the morphology of their burrows, nests, tracks, and other traces may be correlated to a variety of environmental factors such as temperature and precipitation, depositional environments, and such sediment characteristics as consistency, moisture level, and nutrient content.

​

SCOUT TRACKING UNIT

CASE EXPERTISE, SPECIAL TESTIMONY, AND LEGAL SUPPORT (SAMPLE)

​

•    U.S. District Judge, The Honorable John S., Utilities tampering case, U.S. District Court, Anchorage, Alaska
•    Clinton B. Murder Case, Alaska Fugitive Task Force, Anchorage, AK 
•    Amy and Lydia B. Missing Person Case, Alaska State Troopers, Palmer, AK 
•    McN. et al Homicide and Body Part burial case, Alaska State Troopers, Wasilla, AK 
•    Good./B. Attempted Burglary Case, Alaska State Troopers, Glennallen, AK 
•    Susan C. Missing Person Case, Alaska State Troopers, Glennallen, AK
•    Wounded & Missing Brown Bear Recovery Case, ADFG, Ft. Richardson, AK 
•    Nathan S. Domestic Violence/foot pursuit Case, CPD, Cheyenne, WY
•    Matthew D. Multiple Burglary Case, CPD, Cheyenne, WY
•    Ellory McC.Missing Person (Drowning) Case, Carbon County, Rawlins, WY
•    Evidence Search for a Missing Weapon Case-Uinta County, Evanston, WY
•    Obsidian Theft Case-Yellowstone National Park, U.S. Park Service
•    Brown Bear Mulling & False Death Diagnosis Case, Teton Co., Jackson, WY
•    U.S. District Judge, The Honorable Ortrie S., Burglary/ Stolen government property case, Kansas City, Missouri