Helpful Tips:

• Animals are most active in the early morning or at night, and the best time to look for tracks is after a fresh snowfall.

• When you find a trail look at the details of the prints such as the general shape, number of toes, whether there’s evidence of claws, and the size of the prints. Many prints look similar until you consider all of these clues. For example, red and grey squirrel prints are almost identical, but grey squirrel tracks are twice the size of a red squirrel’s.

• Consider the pattern of the tracks. Are they side by side, or one foot in front of the other? Are the footprints close together, or spread out? Is there scat nearby? If so, is the scat in a pile, or is it scattered? These things tell you if an animal was moving quickly (perhaps it was frightened or being chased) or taking its time (no threats here!).

• The further off the beaten path you go the more likely you are to find interesting animal tracks. Take a left at the Dix Bridge and take the trail to Eagle Point. You might just be lucky enough to find fox, eagle, or beaver tracks! If you’re not feeling quite that adventurous, the Hudson Crossing Park play garden and field are perfect spots to find bird, chipmunk, raccoon, and even snapping turtle tracks.

Terms to Know:

Hibernate: Having normal physical functions suspended or slowed down during winter months, as if in a deep sleep

Torpor: Awake but in a tired state

Migratory: Moving from one place to another at different times of the year

Mobile: Able to move easily and freely

Ready to head outside and start tracking? Click the button below for a printable tracking brochure to take with you for easy reference!