Nature Net News
January 2005
Tracking Wilderness
"A
track is a window to the past of an animal. Look at the ground as if it
were a manuscript of the animal's life."
Tom Brown
|
Dear
Readers,
Is there anything more enticing than a simple line of tracks in the snow leading off into the distance? Who went there? Where were they going? Why? Tracks are like echoes -- clues to a not so distant past. Tracks can tell a story and with the helpful hints in this month's Nature Net News, you'll be better able to read the land with your family. There's a reason why handprints are found in wet cement... and in ancient caves as well -- "We were here!" Happy tracking! Kathe
and Betsy |
Squirrels and rabbits leave similar tracks in the snow (since their feet are about the same size and and they both like to hop)? However, there is one clue you can look for to help uncover who's been hopping around your yard: Squirrel front paws tracks are side by side; rabbit front paws track are at an angle.
What to do this month:
Look for animal
tracks in the snow or ice - check your own backyard or visit one of the
Nature Net sites!
Remember to renew your annual membership (or become a new member) at your local nature center, park or museum!
Check out family events at area Nature Net sites!
Tricks of the Trail for Parents:
Seeing fresh animal tracks is a real treat! But sometimes they're
difficult for young eyes to follow. Remember, children's feet make tracks
too! Ask your child to walk slowly, then jump, then run. Now, go
back and observe the differences between the tracks. Can you tell a story
with your tracks?
Instant
Outdoor Expert:
When heading out on a wildlife tracking expedition, pack your own
tracking kit. Include a tape measure, notebook, pencil, magnifying
glass, and a reliable tracking book (Nature Net trackers like Paul
Rezendes' "Tracking and the Art of Seeing"). You may also
want to pack a camera for creating your own Track & Sign Photo
Library. Remember, the best pictures are taken when the sun is low
and casts a shadow over the track. Also, lay down a ruler or object
of known length next to the track you wish to record so, when your picture
is developed, you can recall the scale and size.
Once outdoors, here are a few tips to keep in mind: Individual tracks are
not always as important to figuring out which animal passed by as is the
trail pattern. Most animals can be identified by their walking
pattern alone. Be sure to look for other signs of animal presence
including scat (droppings) which can tell you which animal left it, what
it ate, how long ago it was there, and other animals in the area.
You might also find nests, middens (piles of discarded nut shells or
seeds), food caches, dig holes, tunnels, dens, nipped twigs, runs (trails
used over and over or by many animals), beds (places where an animal has
laid down), and bark rubbings or scrapes. Signs of animals are all
around if you open your senses. For more tracking tips visit the Beartracker's
Den.
Suggested Reading:
"In the
Snow: Who's Been Here?" by Lindsay Barrett George
"Big Tracks, Little Tracks" by Millicent Ellis Selam
Featured Nature Net Site
Nature Craft
Jackson
School Forest
The
Madison School Forest, also known as the Jackson School Forest, encompasses 307 acres in the hilly terrain
southwest of Verona in Wisconsin's unglaciated Driftless Area. The forest
includes the Olson Oak Wood State Natural Area, a prime example of a
Wisconsin southern dry forest with remnants of pre-settlement days. Other
ecosystem examples include the Jerome Jones Pine Plantation planted by
Madison School District staff and students, an open field and an
additional 75 acres of old farmland purchased in 2001 by the Friends of
the School Forest. Over 40 species of birds live and nest in the School
Forest, with many more migratory birds that can be observed seasonally. A
rustic camping area features a kitchen, nature center, shelter and four
sleeping cabins.
As a special place of natural biological diversity, the Madison School
Forest offers a unique site for MMSD students to experience and learn
environmental education. The Madison Metropolitan School District is proud
to be a steward of such a remarkable resource -- we welcome you to come,
learn, and enjoy!
Snow-CrittersEveryone knows how to make a snowman, but what about snow critters? Start with a snowball, roll it along the ground and build your own menagerie of outdoor creatures – rabbits, squirrels, foxes, bears, etc. Use stones, old leaves and twigs for eyes, ears, and whiskers. Be sure to carefully leave a path of ‘untouched’ snow leading up to your creation. Then, from 10-20 feet away, try to make that creature’s tracks leading up to it by simulating that animal’s walk. Hop like a bunny, lumber like a bear, scamper like a squirrel. Keep track of how long your creation lasts. Which disappears first – the critter or its tracks?
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