As I was walking down to my phenology spot, I could sense a change in the air before I began to reach it. I was nestled up with my hat and gloves, nose bright red. I could, for the first time, see my spot from far away because almost all of the foliage within the Centennial Woods has fallen, exposing the naked trees that look like sticks poking out of the ground. When I visited my phenology spot earlier this week, there was no snow on the ground so finding any evidence of animal activity has a scavenger hunt. After searching for some time, I stumbled upon a marking in the soil. Although there is no significant factor that leads me to believe it is a certain animal, I believe it could be any small mammal such as the eastern gray squirrel or the meadow jumping mouse. As for the fauna surrounding my phenology spot, most of the understory is in hibernation with the exception of the occasional lady fern still holding on to the last moments before the harsh Vermont winter. I am excited to come back to my spot when blankets of snow will be covered on the forest floor.
An animal marking left on my phenology spot. 
