ANIMAL/HUMAN TRACKING FORENSICS

FORENSIC SPOOROLOGY

(Animal/Human Tracking Forensics)

 

Spoorology deals with traces of animal/human behavior, such as

tracks, trackway, and sign (spoor) specifically, and the cultural

landscape generally. Parallels can often be drawn between

modern traces and human/faunal remains, helping spoorologists

with decryption of the possible behavior and brain, body, and

action-bound traits of a trace maker. A spoorologist is a scientist

whose area of study and research is spoorology. Spoorologic

studies are based on the discovery and analysis of landscape and cultural structures, thus all remains of primary/secondary movement patterns, gait-footfall sequences, spoor-chain signatures, thus answering questions of the cultural landscape. Essentially, the spoorologic record relies on Observation, Classification, and Interpretation of Spoor (behavioral) Evidence (OCISE) contained within animal/human traces past and present: physical evidence (artifacts) of remains, tools, goods, marks, objects, constructions and/or any other indication of the existence or passing of animal/human contact within an environment, such as biofacts, ecofacts, fauna remains forensics, etc.

 

ANIMAL/HUMAN TRACKING FORENSICS

1. Overview of BGS Paradigm

   1. Behavior Analysis

   2. Gait Analysis

   3. Spoor Analysis

      1. Shape

      2. Shadow

      3. Silhouette 

      4. Shine

      5. Spacing

2. Focusing the Mind‘s Eye

   1. Primary

   2. Secondary

   3. Tertiary

3. Zones and Characteristics

   1. Ground Spoor

   2. Aerial Spoor

4. Conclusive and Substantiating Evidence

   1. Regularity

   2. Flattening

   3. Color Change

   4. Disturbances

5. Two Levels of Registration

   1. Temporary

   2. Permanent

6. Other General Spoor Analysis Topics

   1. Gait-Footfall Sequence

   2. Spoor-Chain Signature

7. Legal Precedence Case Review for Spoor Evidence Admissibility

   1. Shoe Print Evidence

   2. Competent Evidence

   3. Shoeprints Alone Sufficient to Convict

   4. Shoeprints Sufficient to Sustain a Conviction

   5. Probably Made Conclusions

   6. The Required Number of Points of Identification

   7. Establishing Time of Impression

   8. Time of Placement Requirements

   9. Lay Witness/Non-Expert Testimony

   10. Officer Observed Shoeprints/Shoes

   11. Warrantless Arrest

   12. Bill of Rights-Amendments

 

1. Overview of the OCISE Algorithm

   1. Spoor Observation Methodology

      1. Visual Search Pattern

   2. Spoor Classification Methodology

      1. Spoor Platting

      2. Classification of Spoor

      3. Foot Measurement Analysis

         1. Foot Impression Reference Matrix

      4. Quadrant Reference Analysis

         1. Foot Mapping Analysis

      5. Ground Contact Points

         1. Track Wall-tells direction

         2. Track Floor–shows acceleration

      6. Stride and Step Analysis

      7. Pitch Angle Analysis

      8. Trail Width Analysis

      9. Baseline

​

1. Spoor Interpretation Methodology

   1. Behavior Platting

   2. Descriptions of Loco-Motor Behavioral Programming

   3. Human Loco-Motor Behavioral Programming Patterns

   4. Loco-Motor Behavioral Programming

      1. Register Deviation Anomalies to Normal Walking/Running

   5. Descriptions of Psycho-Motor Behavioral Programming

      1. Human Psycho-Motor Behavioral Programming Patterns

         1. Grief/Weariness/Fatigue/Labored Cognition

         2. Panic/Fear (Phobia)/Out of Control/Without Cognition

   6. Eight Adaptive Traits of LMBP and PMBP

      1. Three Brain-Bound Traits

         1. Manifest Cognitive/Intuitive Trait

         2. Manifest Volitional Trait

         3. Manifest Imperturbable Mind/Steadfast-Mind Trait

      2. Two Body-Bound Traits and Three Action-Bound Traits

         1. Manifest Abdominal Trait

         2. Manifest Respiratory/Vocality Trait

         3. Manifest Omni-poise Trait

         4. Manifest Force-Yield Trait

         5. Manifest Synchronicity Trait

      3. General Adaptive Syndrome/General Inhibition Syndrome

      4. GAS/GIS Co-Existence

      5. Transcendent Synergy of the Manifest Adaptive Traits

   7. Human Behavior Identification

 

1. Overview of Tracking Experiments in Spoorology

   1. Further Research

   2. Complexity of Substrates and Terrain

   3. Time and Distance Variances

   4. Observation and Spoor Recognition Deterioration

   5. Animal/Human Behavior Identification Direct Visual Observation

   6. Rate of Error Mitigation through Constancy

   7. Forensics Yield of Other Crime Scene Evidence

   8. Victim, Suspect, Witness Spoor Discrimination

   9. Universal Tracker Certification Standardization for Forensic Spoorology

​

 

SPECIES SPECIFIC DETAILS

 

TQR Classification-Human

​

TQR Classification-Animal

 

1. Order 

2. Family 

​

Characteristics of Animal Physiology

Description

1. Mass

2. Body

3. Eyes

4. Color

5. Tail

 

Characteristics of Animal Behavior

1. Timetables

2. Trail Systems

3. Territories

4. Lifespan

5. Distribution

6. Habitat

7. Behavior

8. Mating

9. Diet

10. Similar Species

 

Track and Trail

​

Track 

1. Formation: Shape, Plantigrade, Digitigrade, Unguligrade

2. Length

3. Width

4. Claws/No Claws

 

Trail 

1. Variable Trail Patterns

2. Stride: Outside Stride, Inside Stride

3. Movement Gaits: Walking, Trotting, Running, Slipping, Falling

4. Straddle

5. Pitch

6. Trough

    
Scat

1. Characteristics

2. Size

3. Shape

4. Boundary Marking

5. Scent Camouflage

 

Other sign

1. Territorial Markings

2. Beds/lays

3. Scenting

   1. Territorial

   2. Mating

   3. Danger

   4. Camouflage

 

Vocalization

1. Mating Calls

2. Territorial Calls

3. Food Calls

​

Scratch Posts

Bones

Kill sites
 

TRAILING SPECIFIC DETAILS

 

Three Elements of Scout Tracking

1. Scout Tracking

2. Bush Survival

3. Protective Defense

 

Five Components of Scoutcraft

1. Mission

2. Teamwork

3. Tactics

4. Fieldcraft

5. Tracking

 

Scout Tracking PMA

1. Tracker’s Credo “There is always a Trail”.

 

Natural Flow of Scout Tracking

1. Scout/Look

2. See

3. Read

4. Interpret

5. Act

6. React

 

Applications of Scout Tracking

 

Human Applications​

​

1. Military

​2. Scout/Reconnaissance/Surveillance

            Point

            Area

            Zone

            Soft Counter-Tracking

            Hard Counter-Tracking​

​3. Combat

            Hunter-Killer

            Sniper

            Patrol

4. Perimeter/Boundary Defense

            Law Enforcement

                  Patrol

                  Crime Scene

                  Tactical

                  Missing Person

5. Perimeter/Boundary Defense

            Search and Rescue

                  Lost People

 

Animal Applications

           

1. Enforcement of Wildlife

                  Controlling poachers

                        Intercept

                        Apprehend

                        Mitigate

                  Identification of individual poachers and groups

                  Patrol

         

2. General Public Awareness

                  If nocturnal-never see animal

                  If diurnal animal very shy and leave

                  Appreciation of animal habitat and needs

           

3. Studying animal behavior by researchers

                  Surveys for carrying capacity and distribution

           

4. Killing Animals

                  Self-preservation

                        Food

                        Self-defense

                  Predator-farmer/rancher problems

                        Targeting right animal

                  Trophy and Sport

 

How to See Tracks and Sign

 

How the Eyes Work

1. Outline

2. Shape

3. Color

4. Value/Contrast

5. Texture

6. Light

7. Rhythm

8. Movement

9. Positive/Negative Space

​

What the Eyes Look for

1. Shape

2. Shadow

3. Silhouette

4. Shine

5. Spacing

6. Suddenness

​

Methods of Looking and Seeing

           

Visual Search Patterns

 

Methods of Tracking

1. Trailing

2. Confirming

 

Main Indicators of Scout Tracking

1. Displacing

2. Staining

3. Weathering

4. Littering

5. Camouflaging

6. Gathering

7. Communicating

 

Spoor Evidence

 

Three Classifications of Spoor

1. Primary

2. Secondary

3. Tertiary

 

Two Zones of Spoor

1. Bottom/Ground

2. Top/Aerial

 

Two Registrations of Spoor

1. Temporary

2. Permanent

 

Four Characteristics of Spoor

1. Regularity

2. Flattening

3. Color Change

4. Disturbances

 

Eight Rules of Scout Tracking

T- Trail the right quarry

R- Record all trail evidence

A- Actively stay behind the TLE

C- Careful not to disturb the trail

K- Keep confirmation of all evidence with the primary sign

I- I know where I am at

N- Not out of visual contact with the team

G- Get into the mind of the quarry

 

Twelve Components of the Tracker’s Triangle

      TKR

      LKT

      TLE

      PSA

      SSA

      ESA

      PLR

      NLD

      DRW

      GTW

      LSO

      RSO

Maintaining the trail

Mitigation of extensive Lost Spoor Procedures.

1. Scout Search Drill (SSD)

2. Scout Pursuit Drill (SPD)

 

Five Classifications of Prints

1 – Perfect, complete impression with all identifying details

2 – Complete impression with some of the identifying details

3 – Partial impression with identifying details

4 – Impression that is human with no identifying details

5 – No impression, no identifying details, sign only

 

Quarry Spoor Formula (QSF)

(f)(h)

F-H

1-2-3-4-5

(1)-(2)-(3)-(4)-(5)

C-U/C-O/C-()/C-line

 

Four Ground Contact Points (GCP)

1. Foot roll

2. Impact Point

3. Flex Point

4. Pivot Point

5. Terminal Point

 

Three Aerial Travel Points (ATP)

1. Foot arc

            Terminal Point Gradient

            Apex

            Impact Point Gradient

 

Three Classes of Evader

A     Trained, experienced, and current skills in the methods of evading scout trackers

B     Some experience but not current in skills for evading scout trackers

C     No skills in evading scout trackers

 

Three Methods of Determining Numbers of Quarry

1. Comparison

2. Direct Count

3. Average Pace

 

Determining the Height of TQR-Man

      Outside stride length

 

Determining the size of TQR-Mammal other than human

      Walking Stride length equals hip to shoulder length

 

VTP-Spoor Interpretation

1. Models for interpretation

           Empirical evidence

           Hypothetical projection

2. Determine LHS with emphasis on surface soil and  vegetation

                  Determine FMA and LRA of all parts

                  Determine size of quarry

                  Determine speed of travel

                  Determine family and order

                  Determine relative size with taxonomic group

                  Determine any behavior clues

 

Scout Team Formations

1. S-File

2. I-Flex

3. Two-man 

4. Three-man

5. Four-man

6. Six-man

7. Flex with Drag Team

8. Horseshoe/Extended

 

Movement Discipline and Team Communications

1. Silent Signals

      during Visibility Conditions

      during Limited Visibility Conditions

2. Ground Signals

            Woodland

            Desert

            Grasslands

 

Inter-Team Radio Communications

Minimum Track Report (MINTREP)

Location

Number

Direction

Age

Type

Other

 

Aging Spoor

What modern scout trackers are the worst at

 

1. Victim/Witness

2. TEC FORMULA

• IEA: Based on experience / step test /indexing

• Run through factors

• REA

• Other clues / vegetation recovery / Vegetation Comparative Test / Moisture in feces

• FEA / PEAK Estimate

  • 1 – under two hours

  • 2 – 2 hours +

  • 3 – 12 hours +/-

  • 4 – 24 hours +/-

  • 5 – 48 hours +/-

  • 6 – 72 hours +/-

  • 7 – 96 hours +/-

 

• Factors “Go By”

  • Type of Spoor: Top, Bottom, Sign, Litter, Body Waste and the effects that the following conditions will have on each type.

    • Weather: Hot, warm, cool, cold, freeze, thaw, variable

    • Rain: Heavy, medium, light, drizzle, none

    • Wind: Strong, medium, light, gusty, none

    • Soil: Sand (large, small, fine), loamy, heavy, light, clay, mud

    • Shade: Full (constant), partially exposed, fully exposed