Step1
Get a good wilderness field guide that contains pictures of different animals' tracks; the guide should also provide information about each animal and some general information on tracking. Include this field guide in your tracking kit.
Step2
Make a tracking kit for yourself. Include a 6-inch ruler (for measuring tracks), a tape measure (for measuring strides), a magnifying glass, a notebook and pencil, a flashlight and Popsicle sticks (for marking tracks).
Step3
Go into the wilderness. The principles of tracking can be utilized virtually anywhere, but the wild is the best place to learn.
Step4
Find an animal trail. These are easily identified grooves worn into the wilderness. They're the animal superhighways of the forest.
Step5
Notice the animal tracks on the trail. There should be many sets, but if there are none, find another trail farther away from mankind.
Step6
Start by choosing a specific set of tracks, and use your ruler to measure the size and width of the animal's footprint.
Step7
Measure the distance from one footprint to the next to determine the animal's stride length. Make note of these measurements in your notebook.
Step8
Match the footprint with a footprint in your book to determine the type of animal you're tracking. As your skills improve, you won't need to look up the print in the book anymore.
Step9
Take your time, learning everything you can from each track. In the beginning, much of your examination will seem irrelevant, but as you find more sets of tracks, the ones you overanalyzed will serve as reference points for a new set. Soon you'll begin to notice differences in foot size, stride length and depth of impression.
Step10
Mark each track with a Popsicle stick so that as you look back you can see the trail of the animal raised up. This will make it very easy to determine where to look for the next print.
Step11
Observe and take notes on everything on the animal's trail: broken or chewed twigs, animal droppings, gnaw marks, bedding places, fur and anything else you come upon.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 It may be too obvious to mention, but after a night's rain or snowfall is a great time to look for tracks. In numerous towns, suburbs and cities wild animals are becoming more common. Be on the lookout for deer, rabbits, squirrels, coyotes, raccoons, mink, beaver, porcupine, turkey, geese, ducks, pheasant, voles, white footed mice, muskrats, skunks, and in some few places bears, wolves, moose or cougars.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 Species within a mammalian family have some common characteristics in their tracks. Knowing them can quickly exclude any animal not in a family and allow you to focus on a few animals within a family. Other data such as hair, scat, feeding site and bedding site or shelter can narrow your quest.
Some things to know (allow for variations and exceptions):
The difference between rabbit and squirrel tracks; dog family and cat family species have four toes but distinctive differences in shape, size, claws, stride and straddle;the weasel family have five toes and species have track patterns distinct from other members of the family according to their sizes, habitats, food sources and shelters. And so it goes for birds, amphibians and reptiles.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 especially in the fall, don't worry too much about making a little noise as you crunch through fallen leaves. this noise does not spook most animals and does not travel far through the forest. be particularly cautious of snapping a twig, as this will spook almost any animal, and the noise carries quite a distance through the forest.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 look into good field guilds like petersons feildguide no heavy or gulky easy to use also you may want to read up on the "tom brown wilderness "series about wilderness and wildlife to help you in learnig to track animals. and nver try to touch or cappture wild animals as they are far more dangerous than they appear.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Fox walk: Without putting wieght on the foot, put the outside ball of your foot on the ground and feel for sticks that would make a sound. When clear, roll onto the inside ball and slowly bring down heel. This is how the Indians walked silently. Practice!