The only wildlife I could find nearby my phenology spot were squirrel and rabbit tracks. The first type of track I identified was of a cotton tail rabbit. The gait for this animal is hopping and you can see the front two and hind feet although the track has caved in slightly as the snow is older. In between each track measured about 10 cm and the straddle was about 9 cm. The feet measured at around 8cm and the tracks were about 3 cm deep. I think that this track is probably a rabbit as the hind feet seem larger than a squirrels would have been and the deeper tracks make sense as a rabbit is heavier than a squirrel. The set of squirrel tracks I found are red squirrel tracks. Again this animal has a hopping gait, and 9 cm between each track. The straddle of the animal was 4 cm and the feet measured 2.5 cm. This smaller animal left much smaller, dainty tracks on the snow. Both these animals are able to stay out at this time of year as it has still not become too cold for them yet and they can still scavenge for food. Since the last time I have come to this spot, it is evident that it is truly winter now. All the trees have now dropped their leaves except for the conifers in the forest. The wastewater systems have frozen over as the temperature has begun to drop. There is not a lot of snow in the area, although I am sure it is coming soon.

Levine, L., & Mitchell, M. (2008). Mammal tracks and scat: life-size tracking guide. East Dummerston, VT: Heartwood Press.