MAMMAL TRACKS & SIGNS Please refer to The Walking Trails of Glendalough leaflet for a full trail description Wicklow Mountains National Park is managed by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (part of the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government). www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie www.npws.ie Education Centre National Parks & Wildlife Service, Wicklow Mountains National Park, Kilafin, Laragh, Co. Wicklow. Tel: 0404 45656 Fax: 0404 45710 Email: [email protected] the upper lake, you’ll find pine cones(8) on the path that have been gnawed and stripped by red squirrels, who eat the pine seeds in the cones. Squirrels’ front teeth are always growing so they keep gnawing things to wear them down. When you reach the Miners’ Village, look up at the rocky slopes above for herds of feral goats(7). These are descended from farm goats who escaped and now live in the wild. They have flexible hoof pads that grip the rocks so they climb easily and fearlessly. Returning to the Information Office, look for bat droppings below the lake side windows(9). During the summer, the attic is home to a large maternity roost of pipistrelle bats(10). Want to discover more about mammals? Please see Mammals of the Wicklow Mountains National Park leaflet (50 cents). Mammal Tracks & Signs This 5km walk starts and finishes at the Information Office and follows the Miners’ Road Walk. This route is waymarked with purple arrows, is graded ‘easy’ & takes about 1 hour. You won’t see our mammals as often or as easily as our birds. They are shy and mostly come out at night or when we are not around. So we look for the tracks and signs they leave behind. Start at the abandoned badger sett(1) opposite the Information office and to the right of the small car park. The badgers(2) left long ago so it is OK to approach. A ‘live’ sett with badgers in should never be disturbed. Look under the multi-stemmed hazel trees(3) for hazelnuts that have big holes gnawed in them by woodmice(4), or that have been cracked in half by red squirrels(5). Can you tell which ate the nuts you find? When crossing the lawns look for the foot prints and droppings left by the deer(6) and goats(7). They have small cloven hooves and leave heart-shaped prints. The droppings are small and dark and full of digested grass. Break one open with a stick to see inside. You might also find clumps of grey or brown hair from the deer left lying around. On the Miners’ Road (purple arrows) beside Wicklow Mountains National Park Purple Walking Trail