Animal Tracking Guide - Connections Academy

PLAYANIMIII DETECTIVE

It is best to do your tracking in an area dominated by wildlife such as a park or nature preserve where different kinds of animals roam free and in higher numbers than in densely populated areas

----~bull ~cSIGNSOFLIFE~ Below are some of the most definitive signs of wildlife

Have your child look for these signs to discover if animals may have passed by recently or could live nearby

These may be in small clumps possibly pulled out by the animal or rubbed off in a fight

Your child should look for bitten leaves gnawed branches or tree trunks or pulled-up grass

These could be on the ground a tree trunk or another surface

Animal droppings can be a key indication of wildlife nearby

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----~bull TRAC ------cPRINT Kl NG ~ Print tracking can be done in many different environments and many different types of weather from snow to moist

soil to sand The softer the land the greater distortion between the true track and the track you and your child will find pressed into the earth Keep this in mind as you embark on your tracking adventure

Find some common animal tracks and their corresponding regions below to begin identifying prints

RACCOON FOX r---------------- r-------------shy

WHERE WOULD I FIND FOX PRINTS WHERE WOULD I FIND RACCOON PRINTS Foxes live in deserts forests fields and meadows Raccoons are found around the They can also be seen in surburan areasUnited States in nearly all habitats

I WHAT DO FOX PRINTS LOOK LIKE WHAT DO RACCOON PRINTS LOOK LIKE Fox prints are oval with a canine-like Raccoon prints look similar to human I1 i J shape They have four toes with claws handprints with five fingers and are

- ~ at the end although the claws may not about 2 to 3 inches across ~ register in the print

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DEER SKUNKr--------------- - - WHERE WOULD I FIND DEER PRINTS r------------------shyWHERE WOULD I FIND SKUNK PRINTS Deer are highly adaptable animals Skunks live in many different habitatsand are able to live in a wide variety including deserts woodlands fields and of habitats You may find them in farmlandgrasslands prairies mountains and forests ffl

WHAT DO SKUNK PRINTS LOOK LIKE WHAT DO DEER PRINTS LOOK LIKE Skunks have five toes with the

Deer are hoofed mammals so they can be front feet having long claws that

hard to identify if other hoofed animals appear as dots and with the rear

live in your area such as antelopes and feet having a long large heel

mountain goats For deer prints look for Skunks walk by placing their feet

~I f an upside-down heart-shape print -middot (FRONT) (HIND) flat to the ground

COYOTE MOUNTAINLION r----------------shyr--------------shy

WHERE WOULD I FIND MOUNTAIN LION PRINTS WHERE WOULD I FIND COVOTEPRINTS

Mountain Lions can be found in the Coyotes live in most areas across North

western United States America even venturing into some urban environments

lt bull WHAT DO MOUNTAIN LION PRINTS LOOK LIKE 9 WHAT DO COVOTEPRINTS LOOK LIKE Mountain Lion tracks are typically 275 to ~ Coyote prints are ovular and about 2 inches 375 inches across with four toes and large 9 A9 wide Coyotes have four toes with claws and M-shaped foot pads The front tracks tend a slightly triangular foot pad shape to be larger than the hind tracks

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~ You can also carry a field guide to identify additional wildlife

Print out this guide and bring it with you on your tracking adventure

Sourcesnexusmiddot Guide to Animal Tracking Outdoor Action https outdooractionprincetonedu nature guide-animal-tracking ACADEMY

Identifying Animal Tracks and Other Wildlife Tracking Skills Alderlearf Wilderness College http wwwwildernesscollege com identifying-animal-trackshtml

~CONNECTIONSY ACADEMYreg Deer Habitat Tracker http trackerccifsuedu deer aboutwhere