As you wander the newly snow-covered trails of Cape Elizabeth this week, you will notice lots of other tracks besides yours. Winter is one the best times to track animals, as suddenly all of their different movements are laid out on a white canvas for us to see. The trick is going from seeing to understanding.

 

There are three common types of track patterns that animals leave, and being able

to distinguish between these will make detailed tracking efforts much easier for you.

Pattern A, known as the alternating track pattern (or the "walk/trot") is commonly made by deer, bears, dogs, cats, porcupines, beavers, and other mammals with four or five toes (excepting rabbits and hares). Measuring the print size and distance between prints will help you figure out which of these animals made the alternating track you're looking at.

Pattern B is generally made by weasels, skunks, fishers and raccoons.

Pattern C is most often made by hares, rabbits, squirrels and mice.

These are just some basic diagrams to get you started. Check out Louise R. Forrest's, Field Guide to Tracking Animals in Snow, from which these diagrams are taken, for an excellent and accessible introduction to more detailed tracking. Have fun!