Animal Tracking
Large Scale Sign Landscape Tracking reading the landscape to locate animals Islands where animals can be found Find best islands for herbivores and you will find carnivores. Areas between islands tend to be scarce of animals except pass through
Wildlife Needs Food Water Shelter (Cover) Space
Indicator Species The presence of these animals is an indicator of the value of the habitat One present good habitat All present excellent habitat Vole, Rabbits, Deer
Types of Habitat Deep Forest Very poor habitat Little undergrowth and poor cover Vegetation not varied Raccoons, birds, rabbits
Types of Habitat (cont.) Fields Very poor habitat Little to no cover except at side of fields Middle field is open territory for hawks and owls
Types of Habitat Transition Areas (Edges) Zone of intersection between two habitats Excellent habitat Wide variety of vegetation and cover
Travel Routes Trails - super highways Species nonspecific Frequently used, rarely changed Animals know them intimately Troughs, no vegetation or battered vegetation
Travel Routes (cont.) Runs Less frequently used, subject to change Some definite wearing into the landscape Connect watering, bedding, feeding areas to a trail Species specific Good for trapping.
Travel Routes (cont.) Escape Routes Push Down used only once, crashing through the brush from a trail Established Escape Routes pushdown used repetitively, often leads to a hide
Animal Sleeping Areas Bed consistent sleeping place Transit Bed established bed used every so often Lay used only once or twice, broken down and crushed vegetation Den used only to bear and raise young
Feeding Areas Varied Run Feeding Area eat off trail or run further Single Plant Feeding Area run ends at a single plant or group of plants Eat-through: animal eats through a patch of vegetation and comes out other side Patched- irregular nibblings along edge of trail or run
Medium Scale Signs Rub polished areas on the landscape Unintentional rubbing up against an object that protrudes onto the trail Intentional specific area where an animal is rubbing itself
Medium Scale Signs (cont.) Hair and Feathers loss Present at rub or snag Loss during molting May indicate a kill site
Medium Scale Signs (cont.) Gnaws and Chews Tell animal by size of teeth where a plant has been bitten off 45 degree clean cut animal with incisors Serrated Edge pull plant up against pallete and sickle it off by pulling neck Masticated teeth marks with saliva predator chew to get minerals Scratchings digging
Medium Scale Sign (cont.) Ground Debris debris that is scratched, pinched, dented, abraded unnaturally, holes, stone rolls, broken twigs
Medium Scale Sign (cont.) Scat feces of animal Determine species by size, shape, and consistency Determine diet of species Animals leave scat in safe places, often near lays
Scat Analysis Tubular Shape Canid Family (Dog) Raccoon Skunks Oppossum Bears WOLF SCAT COYOTE SCAT
Scat Analysis (cont.) Oblong: may have nipple at end Ungulates Deer Family DEER SCAT in SUMMER MOOSE SCAT in WINTER
Scat Analysis (cont.) Tear Drop or Tapered Feline cat family MOUNTAIN LION SCAT BOBCAT SCAT
Scat Analysis (cont.) Fattened Threads Mustilids Weasel Family OTTER SCAT with FISH SCALES MINK SCAT
Scat Analysis (cont.) Pencil Lead Rodents MOUSE SCAT PORCUPINE SCAT
Scat Analysis (cont.) M & M s Rabbits and Hares JACK RABBIT SCAT
Scat Analysis (cont.) Tubular and Tapered at both ends Foxes FOX SCAT with HAIR FOX SCAT with BEERY SEEDS
Aging Scat Greasy Scat fresh meat or plants Chalky Scat old, scat dries from the inside out, bacterial residue forms Hairy Scat carnivore feeding on a old carcass, eating fur and skin last
Raptor (hawks eagles, and owls) regurgitate pellets of hair, bone and feathers - undigestible Raptor Pellets
Small Scale Signs Compressions dust particles and grit on surface is either pressed into the surface or removed when animals walk over it Sideheading - technique of keeping the track between you and the light source
Dullings morning dew is wiped away by animal, plant dull not shiny Shinings during day, animals press down shiny side of grass Leaf Depressions leaves are compressed as animal walks, leaving a compression outline Ghost Scale Sign
Tracks Line of Travel: heel to heel Length of Track Width widest part of track Stride heel of one foot to heel of the other Straddle distance between the right and left feet Pitch degree foot angles out from line of travel
Register Direct Register: front foot is lifted up and the rear foot on that side drops directly into the front track (Cat and Fox) Indirect Register: front foot is picked up and the rear foot on that side drifts slightly behind and to the right or left of front track
Continuum of Speed Stalk ------- Slow Walk------- Walk----- Trot----- Bound---- Lope----- Gallop
Pattern Classification Diagonal Walkers animal moves opposite side of body at same time Bounders front feet land together, then the rear feet behind Gallop (Hoppers) front feet land first, rear feet come on outside of front feet and land ahead Pacers move the same side of the body at the same time
Diagonal Walkers Deer, Canids and Felines Stalk Slow Walk Pace when bored, annoyed, aggravated Walk Rarely hold a bound except in soft or rocky terrain - prefer to gallop; on clear terrain hold a bound on for a few patterns before going into a gallop - prefer to trot or lope - can go straight from a walk to a gallop (e.g. if suddenly frightened)
Bound Walkers Mustilids (Weasel) except skunk and badger For a shear burst of speed will gallop - seen just before a kill Will diagonal walk when approaching hunting territory e.g. slowing down to be more quiet Will stalk when hunting game Will pace when aggravated, bored or agitated, threatening, seen just before going out on hunt
Gallop (Hoppers) Walkers Rabbits, Hares and Rodents except porcupine and ground hog Prefer to gallop but will bound in soft terrain i.e. snow, mud or rocky terrain Will diagonal walk if it needs to cover a shorter distance than a hop would cover, e.g. rabbit moves 2" over to feed Will stalk when moving away from danger Will pace when aggravated, threatening or bored
Pacers Move the same side of the body at the same time Wide, rotund bodies Can go from stalk to gallop Badgers, Skunk, Porcupine, Raccoon, Opossum, and Bear
Sex Determination for Diagonal Doe narrow shoulder girdle, wide pelvic girdle for birthing Buck wide shoulder girdle for antler support, narrow pelvic girdle Works only for adult animals Walkers Only
Aging Tracks 3 Factors the Degrade Tracks Weather and Weather Fluctuations Gravity Type of Substrate or Soil WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE