Mist curled among the ferns on the morning of May 16 as fifteen naturalist guides and wildlife enthusiasts—from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and El Salvador—gathered at Cloudbridge Nature Reserve for our inaugural Mammals of Costa Rica Field Course. Over three days, participants deepened their understanding of the country’s mammal biodiversity and reinforced the link between responsible tourism and conservation.
Friday: Foundations and Small Mammals
Biologist José D. Ramírez-Fernández kicked off the course with a comprehensive overview of mammalian biology, covering evolution, anatomy, and ecological roles. The lecture then transitioned into a detailed study of each of the twelve mammalian orders found in Costa Rica. In the late afternoon and evening, participants took part in a practical session setting Sherman live traps in strategic locations around the biological station to capture rodents. As dusk fell, the group embarked on a guided night walk along forest trails and were rewarded with an encounter with an olingo, a rare nocturnal relative of the raccoon family. Following the sighting, attendees deployed mist nets beneath the canopy and safely extracted four bats, practicing identification and release techniques by headlamp light.
Saturday: From Traps to Taxonomy
At first light, participants checked Sherman traps, processing each capture with care—measuring, identifying, and releasing specimens. After lunch, José led an in-depth taxonomic workshop reinforcing the key features and ecological roles of the twelve mammalian orders. A guided cloud-forest walk followed, where attendees learned to recognize tracks, feeding signs, and animal calls. That night, the team redeployed mist nets and, in just one hour, captured nine bats, refining their nocturnal survey skills under expert direction.
Sunday: Conservation and Certificate Ceremony
Participants began with a final check of rodent traps before returning to the field station for focused lessons on the remaining mammal groups and a discussion of Costa Rica’s most endangered species, their current threats, and ongoing conservation initiatives. The course concluded with the presentation of certificates to all fifteen graduates, celebrating their dedication and new skill set.
Congratulations to our first cohort for completing the Mammals of Costa Rica Field Course!
Stay tuned to our social-media channels for announcements of upcoming dates. We hope to welcome you into the cloud forest on our next adventure.