The snow that fell over much of the state last week was a reminder that winter is here. Snowfall creates a terrific opportunity to see wildlife tracks in your backyard, neighborhood, local parks or conservation areas. Tracks can tell some very interesting wildlife stories. One morning last week, I spotted tracks coming from the woods and into my yard. Hopping out of the car, I noted they were fox tracks that showed the animal had meandered around a few shrubs on a slope facing the house and doubled back—only this time in a few bounds. Perhaps a dog walker or a car had come by and frightened it back into the woods.
If you are new to wildlife tracking, there are individuals and groups in the state who offer workshops and recently the 2nd Annual Massachusetts Wildlife Trackers Conference was held in Leominster. Click here for information about how to contact the Massachusetts Wildlife Trackers.
You can also pick up a handy pocket-sized guide to Massachusetts animal tracks from the MassWildlife offices in Westborough or Boston or download the guide from the MassWildlife website.
Take your family or friends tracking this winter!
I guess tracking in snow allows for seeing a pretty clean imprint, and sometimes tail trails that allow for the beginner to see exactly what is going on with the animal's gait etc. good post.
Posted by: Alex Graves | 11/19/2010 at 05:36 PM
Hi Marion! Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!! Nancy has a new feline. I bought her a kitten for Halloween. She is a doll. Nancy named her Lucy. She is a Bengal/Manx/Asian Leopard mix. I figured since we are empty nesters we needed a critter, but I wanted a low maintenanc one. I was never a cat lover, always dogs, wow, I think I love Lucy more than she does. She is smart, fun, loving, and cool. ( Nancy is the litter box matron) Hey, I got a deer in N.H.!!!! All is well, read this outdoors web. Very good. Keep up the good work, your old classmate of Bradley Palmer Police Academy. I celebrate 26 years as of Christmas Day. (can you believe it? where did the time go?)
Posted by: Tony Wolski | 12/23/2009 at 06:12 PM
@Marcy - Sorry but I didn't take this photo. The image of these tracks came from a copyright free website as an illustration for my post. With the advent of small, pocket-sized digital cameras, I do find it handy to whip it out for a spontaneous shots. I didn't take photos this time as I was under a time constraint.
Speaking of track photos--if you want to identify the tracks at your leisure, take images that include a familiar sized object next to the prints--a quarter, dollar bill, or other item that gives some sense of scale/size. (One hunter sent me photos with a shotgun shell placed by the track!) Try to take the photo such that there is as much contrast between the tracks and surrounding ground. This is a real challenge when there is snow.
It also helps to measure the distance between tracks and to note the track pattern. On our track card there are some examples of track patterns. Note that in the blog image, the tracks are in pairs and slightly offset on a diagonal. Based on the pattern and the rounded feet, the image is most likely a set of fisher tracks, but I would be positive with more information. For a great resource on tracks and tracking find this book by a Massachusetts photographer, tracker and naturalist, Paul Rezendes: "Tracking and the Art of Seeing: How to Read Animal Tracks and Sign". It contains excellent photos, illustrations of tracks and track patterns, droppings, other animal sign and information on many North American mammals.
Posted by: Marion Larson | 12/18/2009 at 03:26 PM
Thanks for your posts Marion!
That is an interesting track pattern shown in the photo - is that the same one you describe? Or, perhaps a fisher?
Good to see tracking covered here - it is one of my favorite forms of winter exploration!
Posted by: Marcy Marchello | 12/18/2009 at 02:14 PM