Keeping Track
A trio of tracks in my front yard: bobcat heading right, cottontail heading left (note the hind feet ahead of the front feet) and mouse heading from bottom to top.
The sandy soil of our high desert land provides the perfect “track trap” for collecting impressions of the footprints of wild animals. Because the area is so untamed, tracks and signs are often the only indication we have of those species with whom we share our home.
When we built our house more than a quarter century ago, I designed spaces for a dozen hand-painted tiles of tracks of animals that can be found nearby. After decades of sun and weather, they are due to be repainted soon.
The ability to read animal tracks is not only good for identifying the animals that have passed by but can also help to tell the stories of those animals. Details such as size and health of the animal as well as whether it is an individual or multiple members of a group can all be deduced from the clues of trails once you know how to interpret them.
In Wyoming, knowing how to tell the difference between grizzly and black bear tracks or cougar and bobcat tracks, along with the ability to understand how long ago the animal went by, are matters of survival in the backcountry.
A wolf track viewed along a trail in Yellowstone is slightly longer than the four inch width of my husband’s boot.
In comparison, a coyote track viewed along the trail a few minutes later is about half the length of the wolf print.
Besides footprints of animals, it is good to be aware of other signs, such as rubbing, scraping and gnawing. These, along with knowing how to identify animal scat, can help confirm the species of the animal.
Chukar tracks in the sand.
Chukar droppings help confirm the identity.
There are several good books that explain the basics of identifying animal tracks. It is just one more way for humans to become aware of the wildlife that surrounds us, even if we are not lucky enough to see the animal itself.
Mountain lion track. I was able to follow the tracks of this female and her cub after they traveled across my running trail.
To hear more about tracking and about the trails I have followed in my yard, be sure to listen to my podcast on the subject by clicking the button below, or by downloading the latest episode from Apple Podcasts or Spotify.