This past week, I took a trip to Centennial Woods looking for tracks and other evidence of animals. I found a few examples and took pictures to post to inaturalist.
The first, and most exciting, animals I saw evidence of was a porcupine. Near the entrance to Centennial Woods, by the river and small bridge that crosses it, there is a dead tree that has had all the bark chewed off the top branches. I had noticed this on previous trips, and the accompanying spray off wood chips on the ground, but it wasn’t until Walt’s lecture on porcupines that I figured out what it was. Upon seeing the tree again with new knowledge, I am fairly confident the markings matched the description of a Porcupine.
Up the trail further, I came across a set of tracks from what appeared to be a Fisher. I saw them right in the middle of the trail frequented by humans and their pets, so I wasn’t able to see where the tracks came from or went to, but I saw two clear tracks, and the distinctive five toes, with a long foot pad helped me to identify it as a a Fisher.
