Tracks are all the talk!
Recently, in lecture, we have done a lot of talk around winter animal behaviors and tracking creatures in the natural areas around us! To explore this and put what I had learned into practice, I ventured off into Centennial Woods. This is an amazing area of land, especially as it is so close to campus. It’s close and convenient, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t full of natural beauty and critters. As I walked the snowy trails, it barely took anytime to find prints all around me! After the cray snow storm we had this past weekend and constant wind, the tracks seemed to be a little hard to see in detail. However, I was still able to make some good guesses!
While out in Centennial, I used iNaturalist. I really enjoy using this app. It allows you to add so many details about the organism you find, from species to geological location to any notes you deem important! I find it especially helpful when identifying plants as it provides a recommendation to what you may be seeing. Furthermore, it creates communities through projects and allows all sorts of people (scientists, students, strollers, etc!) to track what they’re seeing. I think it is an excellent tool for recording biodiversity and what is occurring in the natural world around us.
The first animal tracks I found walked in a hopping motion, with all four feet gathered close. The back two feet were side by side. I had forgotten my ruler AND my tracking guide (smacking my head!!!), so I used my hand for reference. The prints were small, maybe around 6.5 to 7 cm with each foot being around 1 to 2 cm. Also, there was a little print in the middle of each track, maybe where a belly or tail had dragged along? After snapping a picture and coming back to my dorm to do some consideration, I think it is likely a small mammal, maybe a chipmunk or squirrel! With the combination of the side by side back feet, hopping track pattern, and small feet, I felt this was an accurate assumption!
The next tracks I saw were clearly identifiable. This animal is hard to confuse with others, just based on size and geological location. It was a deer hoof! Although moose hooves look similar, it was easy to conclude that in this location, there were no moose nearby. The hoof was around 8 cm long and followed a sweet trotting pattern. I can only imagine the nice walk this deer was enjoying!
I then came across a super cool tree! The tree itself was pretty awesome but as I came closer, I noticed a spot that seemed to be a cozy den. It was about shoulder height to me, so maybe a little over 4 and a half feet. It was full of wood shavings which many animals use as an insulator in their dens! I don’t know the exact critter that would be snuggling up in here, but I imagine one of the smaller side. Maybe squirrel or chipmunk!
I was running out of day light and just as I was about to turn around, I noticed one last set of tracks! These ones threw me for a total loop—I had no idea what they could be! On one hand, they were tiny and looked like just two little ovals walking along in the snow. On the other hand, they seemed to follow a waddling pattern which is most common for animals who are larger in size. The tracks were side by side and had a sizable distance between them. Maybe the animal was running from something? I discussed the tracks with my friend Lilia, and she thought they could be a shrew. Quite the snow mystery!
Animal tracking has been such a cool activity to explore. Before I was introduced to tracking, I must have walked by so many tracks without giving them a second thought! I believe tracking makes me more present in the moment and in nature. I really enjoy the connection I feel between myself and the critters that roam the natural areas around me! I have begun to notice tracks all around, even as simple as a dog print. Further, it is always a fun guessing game on which animal I think it may be. The key thing trackers will tell beginners is that you can never be positive what a track is. Overall, I am so grateful for the mindfulness and presence this activity has given me!
