We may not always see lots of wild animals, but they’re all around. How do we know? We can look for signs of animals, or evidence, that they have been in our yards and parks. You might find:
Evidence of a Jackrabbit include low, chewed branches and small round pellets of poop all around.
Tracks – footprints left by an animal in dirt, mud or snow
Bark rubbing or chewing – some animals rub their antlers, sharpen their claws or eat bark
Browse – deer and moose bite off the tips of branches, which is most noticeable in fall or winter
Scat – everyone poops, including animals
Supplies
Animal tracks guide. Buy one online, borrow one from the library, or download a Winter Wildlife Tracking Guide
Camera (optional)
Ruler (optional)
Instructions
Go outside! Look for signs of animals on the ground, underneath shrubs and on tree branches.
EALT does Winter Wildlife Walks as a volunteer event, where the public can learn about wildlife tracking and search for signs on some of our conservation lands. These take place at different locations throughout the winter and all ages are welcome. This can be a great opportunity to test out your new skills! Check out our volunteer events page to learn more and register for the next event.
Ask Yourself
If you find animal footprints, can you tell where they’re headed? For example, you might see deer footprints leading into the forest, or squirrel prints leading up to a tree.
Can you find footprints from other animals, like dogs and cats?
How far apart are the tracks from one another? What does that tell you about how big the animal who made them is?
Can you see your own footprints? How are they different from other people or animals?
Snowshoe hare tracks feature large back feet and tiny front paws trailing behind as they hop forwards
