Tracking Wildlife
With a coating of snow covering my phenology spot, it is possible to track the wildlife that may pass through or live near the area. On return to my phenology blog location, I found the scene very similar to how I left it. The major difference included the retention pond being frozen over. Most of the phenology area is dominated by the pond, so it was difficult to find many tracks since a great deal of the snow in the area was covered by human and dog tracks. I decided to venture onto the ridge that separates the two ponds, essentially expanding the scope of my phenology area. I believe that I found the tracks of a deer as seen below. The cleft feet leave two indentations in the snow.
I was unable to properly identify since these tracks were older since they had malted and refroze in some areas. It wasn’t until I was able to track the prints to some droppings that I was able to identify clearly as deer. I also decided to take a closer look along the path of the tracks, since there were several prickly bushes that my own coat got caught on several times. So there was reason to believe that the deer’s fur also may have gotten snagged.
As the picture depicts, I was able to find some hair but it was softer than I expected a deer pelt to be. I also found rabbit tracks nearby (it matches the shape and size of a squirrel but as shown below the back feet are not parallel but staggered meaning that it is most likely a rabbit), so it is possible that it had actually belonged to a rabbit. During late fall there were many berry bushes in this area, so it is likely that these animals left centennial woods to look for more food sources so close to the road.
Along with tacking wildlife, I also attempted to identify several deciduous trees by looking at their twigs and buds. I hoped to upload pictures but my phone’s camera was having difficulty, due to the cold. Instead the sketches above are of two of the most common deciduous trees in the area, including green ash and sumac.
I was surprised to find deer tracks wandering so far outside Centennial; I figured I would find plenty of squirrel and rabbit tracks. It just proves another point of the success of this blend of natural and manmade space.
Levine, L. (2014). Mammal Tracks and Scat.