Reflections from Crumbly Acres: Critter tracks

Living in Canada in the winter can be much fun, if you find hobbies. For me, tracking winter wildlife has been rewarding. There are tricks to figuring out who has gone by in the dark. One handy tool I’ve found is a laminated naturalist pocket guide. Identifying mammal tracks is easier if you know the animal families likely to be found in your region.

Canines (domestic dogs, red fox, wolf, coyotes), felines (domestic cats, cougars, bobcats), Cervidae (deer, elk, moose), rodents (squirrels, mice, moles, shrews, groundhogs, muskrats, porcupines), bears, Mustelidae (weasels, otters, martens, skunks), Leporidae (rabbits, hares, cottontails), Castoridae (beavers), possums, and raccoons, to name a few.

Another clue is understanding which mammals hibernate, or go into torpor. Our groundhog, Fred, goes into hibernation in early September, arising in March. The raccoons go into torpor, as do skunks, in the deep cold. Rodents will do the same, awaking to eat stored food. It is a situational endeavour. It helps to know what to expect and where and how to look for tracks.

• Herbivores attract Carnivores (e.g., under the birdfeeders!)

• Habitat - forest, field, woodland, wetland, and transition habitats.

• Travel Routes - trails, runs, escape routes.

• Potential Food Sources give some clues, knowing what the mammals eat.

• Locomotion and Gait Patterns: walkers, runners, trotters, tail draggers (deermouse), bounders (e.g., fishers, squirrels), lopers (fishers), diagonal walkers (e.g., deer).

Knowing likely species means understanding the different families. Canines present a track including four toes, claws, and a 'heel'. Felines don’t usually leave a claw mark. They have a different heel pad, as well.

The overall shape of canine paws is an oval. One of the sites explains that domestic dog toe pads are closer together, with wider spaces between wild animals who rely on a firm purchase on snow, wet leaves, clambering up slippery slopes, and for speed while hunting.