animal tracks by: caleb balstad idea: 4th hour. facts a gait is the pattern in which an animal...
TRANSCRIPT
FACTS
• A gait is the pattern in which an animal walks.
• Tracks can be found near water sources and near water sources.
• Tracks are used by hunters to stalk their game.
• Animals pace when annoyed, stalking, or bored.
• Deep forest is a poor habitat for animals, therefore, you will not find many tracks.
• A field is a good habitat for animals, therefore, you may find many tracks.
• Deer leave trails consisting of eaten vegetation, tracks, a path, and bedding grounds.
• Animals rub up against trees and so the hair left can help you track the animals. (Bucks, boy deer, rub their horns on trees and leave horns.)
FACTS
• Ground birds leave a walking gait.
• A female deer’s toes gradually spread apart as they get older.
• Dogs have four toes and their tracks stand out well.
• One of the most dangerous and difficult animals to track is the mountain lion. [puma family, cougar, leopard.]
• The heavier the animal, the deeper the track.
• When pouring molds, don’t touch the track.
• Tracks in sand won’t give you very good molds.
• Dens are only used to bear young and sleep.
FACTS
• House dogs have tracks that are different than wild dogs.
• In the south, the most prominent tracks are the white tailed deer.
• Mountain Lion tracks rarely show the claw.
• Deer make the perfect choice for beginning trackers.
• It is possible to bait animals for tracks.
• Dog’s inner toes are the largest.
• Female deer’s tracks look like traditional hearts.
• Animals leave good tracks under controlled conditions.
Facts
• Big Horn sheep tracks resemble deer tracks so be careful.
• Frequently used trails are a good place to find tracks.
• Tracks in the snow are not very reliable.
• Rabbit’s rear tracks will be 2 times larger than its front ones.
• Deer leave the most commonly noticed tracks.
• Bear tracks will resemble human tracks.
• All animals need water, so tracks are easily found near water sources.
• Examples of different diagonal gaits are slow walker, pacer, and stalker.
Facts
• Raccoon tracks kind of resemble our hands.
• Bird tracks are very geometric.
• If a track is made in the snow, it will not turn up in the dirt.
• Animals that use their hind legs a lot have bigger hind feet than front feet.
• If an animal is jumping, then their hind tracks will be deeper.
• The lighter the animal, the lighter the track.
• Dog tracks resemble human hands.
• A deer’s track is a very common thing to come across.
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Facts• When tracking animals take into account when the animals are up
and about
• Stealth is key when tracking.
• Armadillos leave holes in the ground that can help you track.
• Tracks can appear anywhere so keep a look out.
• A lay is used once or twice.
• A transit bed is used every so often.
• A bed is any consistent sleeping place.
• A eat through is where an animal has literally eaten through a patch of vegetation and come out the other side.
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FACTS
• Animals do things you would never expect, so think like an animal.
• A pushdown is generally used once as an escape route as an animal leaves a trail or a run to escape.
• An established escape route is pushdown used repetitively and usually leads to a hide.
• A single plant feeding area is characterized by a trail terminating a single kind of plant or group of plants.
• An open ground sleeper curls up in the brush.
• A rub is a polished area on the landscape.
• An example of a rub is a deer scraping the velvet off its antlers onto a tree and this can be used to track these animals.
• Tracks will look different depending on what the animal is doing.
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Deer tracking• Be quiet while tracking these animals, they’re very frisky.
• These animals leave distinct tracks.
• These tracks are used by hunters the most.
• These animals leave tracks on mostly trails.
• Most deer are very shy, so be careful.
• Look for key signs that tracks are in the area.
• Look for scat, when you find scat tracks will be nearby.
• Look for hair which is another indicator that tracks are in the area.
Raccoon tracking• Most raccoons live in trees.
• They are nocturnal, so already have a tracking method in mind.
• They will be hanging around water.
• Track around the water for raccoons.
• Look for little hands on the ground.
• Raccoons scat will look like no other animals scat, it will look lumpy and dry.
• They will most likely leave hair on trees.
• Raccoons are vicious so be careful.
Dog Tracking• Almost all tracks of dogs look alike.
• Fox tracks are in the dog track family.
• Dogs run so most tracks will be found in a gait pattern.
• Dogs shed a lot so hair will be found.
• House dogs will have somewhat the same tracks as wild dogs.
• Look for dog scat to indicate that tracks are in the area.
• Be careful when tracking them, they are vicious.
• Look for all tracking signs.
Bibliographyhttp://www.ussartf.org/animal_tracking.htm
http://www.bear-tracker.com/
http://42explore.com/animaltracks.htm
A Field Guide to Animal Tracks
By: Olaus J. Murie
Houghton Mifflin Company C 1954
Animal Tracks and Signs
By: Jinny Johnson
Marshall Editions C 2008
Mammal Tracks And Signs
By: Mark Elbroch
Stackpole Books C 2003