Wildlife

Tracking is one of the most family-friendly wildlife activities; you can enjoy it anywhere there is a patch of open ground. As I’ve written previously, kids love deciphering the mysteries of animal tracks. Even my two-year-old son loves checking out the tracks in our yard.

Following tracks is often the best way to learn habits of undisturbed wildlife. Oftentimes, you never know many elusive animals are roaming your neighborhood – until you see their tracks. It might be difficult to catch a glimpse of a raccoon, but you may be able to follow its nightly routine via tracking.

Tracking is also an easy activity to learn. Yes, there are many nuances and some tracks are difficult to tell apart. I highly recommend Olaus Murie’s classic Peterson’s Field Guide to Animal Tracks. It contains exhaustive information on track size, patterns, scat, dens and other sign left by animals. It’s like a mystery-solving handbook. I wore mine out as a kid and still refer to it frequently.

Snow, of course, makes tracking easy. If you don’t have snow, trying searching near water like ponds, creeks or rivers. Most wild animals visit water, and leave their tracks in the mud.

This guide isn’t meant to take the place of a book or app. I’m featuring some of the interesting tracks you might find on your ramblings. These are also fun to follow. Many of them can be found in urban and suburban habitats.

Please leave your own favorites in the Comments section.