Today I attempted to return to my phenology site to make some observations for class. Unfortunately, however, due to the combination of melting snow, recent rain, and below freezing temperatures, I was barely able to make it down the first slight descent of the hike into the woods, as I was sliding down ice with every attempted step. So, I made it to a clearing and took some notes from there. While it wasn’t exactly my site, it was still the same woods and a similar stand of trees. I observed some tracks from animals and also some phenological changes.
Here are some tracks I found. On the left were tracks that were somewhat undefined. Due to the the direct register of the gait and size of the print, a coyote likely formed these tracks. While I originally thought it was a fox’s prints, I found some coyote prints around the area, and now think that it was a coyote who’s path this was. The gait and distance between tracks also seemed slightly big for a fox to create. Overall, it was interesting to walk around the tracks and see the path that the creature took, which I recreated with the red line.
These were the prints around the area I found! When I saw these in person I immediately thought they were a dog’s print, but after observation and thought I believe they are a coyote’s prints. The toes seem to be more squished together, with the signifying front toes toughing, as opposed to a dog’s toes that are individual and spread out. Geographically, coyotes are present throughout South Burlington, and to tend to frequent Centennial Woods, so it makes sense that these would be a coyote’s tracks.
Phonologically, Centennial Woods is clearly in the depths of winter. All the deciduous trees I observed were leafless, and most plant life is covered in ice and snow. Also, although I did not spend too much time closely observing and listening for it, there was notably less visible and audible animal activity. However, prints in the snow tell a different story.
I was glad to get back out there, despite the cold, and hopefully will be able to go to my actual site once the ice clears.