stories in the snow! - nature nb

Stories in the Snow!

Welcome to the NatureKids NB activity booklets! This series of booklets is designed to offer guided activity ideas to our NatureKids leaders. All activities are optional – do as few or as many as is appropriate for your group!

The Stories in the Snow! booklet is all about tracking animals in the snow and is

appropriate for outings in the winter. If you need any additional resources or guidance please contact Emma McIntyre,

NatureKids NB Coordinator, at 459-4209 or e-mail [email protected]. This booklet includes:

1) Preparing to Explore a Forested Trail 2) Setting Rules for your Group

3) Activity 1: Winter Tracking Hike 4) Activity 2: Snow Track “Trap” 5) Activity 3: Edible Scat

6) Activity 4: Animal Evidence Scavenger Hunt 7) Activity 5: Camouflage

8) Animal Tracking Field Guide 9) Track “Trap” Observation Sheet 10) Animal Evidence Scavenger Hunt Checklist

PREPARING TO EXPLORE A FORESTED TRAIL

When exploring a natural area, it is always recommended to do a very quick check of the area in advance. Check for hazards like poisonous plants, thorns, dead trees, litter/broken bottles. The existence of a hazard does not mean you need to cancel the outing (nature will always have certain hazards, after all!). However, you may need to make some

modifications to what areas your group will explore or how you will explore them. For example, if you spot a stinging nettle plant and a pothole where children could twist an

ankle, you could place a special marker like red flagging tape near those hazards. Before starting exploration, you could explain your boundaries and that the group must avoid areas near the red markers.

SETTING RULES FOR YOUR GROUP It is important to set ground rules so children understand boundaries, proper trail

etiquette, and how to respect nature while still enjoying it. Here are ground rules you may want to explain before searching for animal tracks.

We will stay on the trail. This limits impact on undergrowth, tree roots, leaf litter, and habitats for small animals!

We will dress in layers. If you can take off your sweater and put it in your backpack if you get too hot. And if you get cold, you can put your sweater back on. That’s a lot better than leaving it at home, isn’t it?

We will be respectful. You are visiting the homes of many animals when you go into the forest. Remember to be respectful of the animals and their homes. Children should not peel bark off of trees or disturb any areas that look like animal habitats.

We will be safe while tracking animals. If you encounter an animal while on a tracking hike, observe it from a safe distance. When you are done, leave it alone and continue on your walk.

ACTIVITY 1: WINTER TRACKING HIKE

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES:

Animal Tracking Field Guide (included at the end of this document)

Optional materials: A nature journal, magnifying glasses, binoculars, smart

phone or camera to document tracks

INSTRUCTIONS:

Take your group out for a fun winter hike at a local park or nature trail. Encourage the children to explore every part of the forest but to keep a special eye out for any animal

tracks they see in the snow. Using the Animal Tracking Field Guide, try to identify as many tracks as possible.

Afterwards, you can discuss the types of tracks you found. Are there some animal tracks that are harder to find during the winter? Why? Based on your observations, what are some clues about the shape and size of tracks that can help you identify the

animal it belongs to?

ACTIVITY 2: SNOW TRACK “TRAP”


Snow

4 markers (stakes or flags to mark off “trap” area)

A couple small blocks of wood

Peanut butter (can replace with shortening or honey)

Foods that will stick to the peanut butter and are safe for wildlife (dried berries,

apples, seeds, nuts, carrots, lettuce, etc)


Track “Trap” Observation Sheet (included at the end of this document)

INSTRUCTIONS:

This activity is used to monitor wildlife around you! Think your backyard or local park

doesn’t get visited by animals? Think again! Lots of animals have excellent camouflage, or only appear at dawn or dusk. A track “trap” will help you determine what kind of

animals are around. To prepare your “trap”, find a wooded area that is covered in snow and away from foot

traffic. Measure out an appropriate-sized area and place your markers in the four corners of the “trap”. This will remind you where your area is and keep others from

walking over it. Spread the peanut butter or honey on the blocks of wood and apply the food on top of

it so it will stick. Place the blocks of wood carefully in the “trap” area without stepping inside it. Leave your track “trap” overnight. Use the Track Identification Field Guide to help you identify the tracks.

The next day, check your track trap for animal tracks and fill in the observation sheet

to keep track of the animals that visited your “trap”.

Try setting up a couple stations with different foods in different areas to see if certain animals visit some areas more often or prefer certain foods over others.

ACTIVITY 3: EDIBLE SCAT MATERIALS AND RESOURCES:

Tootsie rolls

Dried berries

Seeds (ex. sunflower seeds)

Crushed white peppermint

Shredded coconut


INSTRUCTIONS:

Explain to the children that they are going to make scat they can eat. They will use tootsie rolls to make the scat and can pick other ingredients to make the scat from an herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore.

Show them the ingredients they can use:

Ingredient Represents

Dried berries Berries and fruit

Seeds (ex: sunflower seeds) Seeds

Crushed white peppermint Bone fragments

Shredded coconut Fur

Have the children soften the tootsie roll by rolling and kneading it in their hands. Once the tootsie roll is soft, they can work in their chosen ingredients. Once all the ingredients are incorporate, have the children shape the scat and leave it to re-harden.

Once the scat has hardened it can be eaten as a delicious snack!

ACTIVITY 4: ANIMAL EVIDENCE SCAVENGER HUNT


Animal Evidence Scavenger Hunt Checklist (included at the end of this

document)


Pencils, pens, or markers

INSTRUCTIONS:

This activity will encourage your group to think about all the other types of evidence animals leave behind as well as tracks and scat.

Print out copies of the Animal Evidence Scavenger Hunt Checklist and take your group to a local nature trail or area with trees. The children can work individually or in

groups. See who can find the most items from the checklist!

ACTIVITY 5: CAMOUFLAGE

INSTRUCTIONS:

Ask the group what an adaptation is? (Characteristics of animals and plants that allow them to live where and how they do.) Ask the group if they know what camouflage is? (Allows otherwise visible animals or other objects to remain unnoticed by blending with their environment.)

Before starting the game, make sure all the children understand where the boundaries are.

Explain that some children (the “prey”) will be hiding in the woods. The children must hide so that they are not seen or heard by the predator. They must, however, be able to

see the predator’s eyes from their hiding spot.

Delineate a small circle that will be the predator’s area. Use whatever material is available (sticks, rocks, pine cones) to create a clear boundary.

The “predator” (seeker), will stand in the predator’s area, cover their eyes, and count to 30. At this time, the rest of the children (the prey!) go out and hide. Once done counting, the predator will visually scan around to see if they can spot the other

children. The predator will announce then they are done counting. The predator can move within the boundaries of the predator’s area but may not step outside of that

boundary at any time. Any children that are spotted come and sit quietly in a designated area. They are not

allowed to point to hiding children or tell the predator where the other children are hiding.

The winner is the child who was able to hide the closest to the predator without being spotted. The winner has the privilege of being the predator during the next round.

Animal Tracking Field Guide

Most animals are afraid of humans, and if they hear a human coming, will quickly hide. That’s why it is often difficult to spot animals in the wild. However, sometimes you can find signs that an animal has been around. This guide will help you figure out

what animals have been visiting your community! Pictures are not to scale

BEAVER

Length: Over 5 inches

5 front toes

5 back toes

Claw marks do not always show

Back foot is webbed

Dragging tail

BLACK BEAR

Length: Over 7 inches

5 front toes

5 back toes

Claw marks do not always show

Back foot appears much smaller

RACCOON

Length: over 1 inch

5 front toes

5 back toes

Claw marks should show up

Back foot much longer

BOBCAT

Length: over 2.5 inches

4 front toes

4 back toes

Claw marks do not show

Front and back feet look very similar

RED FOX

Length: over 1.5 inches

4 front toes

4 back toes


Walk in a straight line

COYOTE

Length: over 2 inches

4 front toes

4 back toes

Claw marks usually show up

SNOWSHOE HARE

Length: over 1 inch

5 toes on each foot, although

usually only 4 show

Oval in shape

Claws marks sometime show up

Back foot track is much larger

than the front foot

STRIPED SKUNK

Length: over 1 inch

5 front toes (may only see 4)

5 back toes (may only see 4)


CANADA GOOSE


Webbed feet

3 toes facing forward

GREAT BLUE HERON

3 long toes facing forward

1 toe facing the back

Feet not webbed

MALLARD DUCK


Webbed feet

3 webbed toes

MUSKRAT

Length: over 1 inch

4 front toes

5 back toes

Claw marks might not show up

Rat-like tail mark might be

visible with tracks

PORCUPINE


4 front toes

5 back toes

Front and back feet look very similar

Drag marks from their quills may be visible

WHITE-TAILED DEER

Length: over 1 inch

Hooves

Rounded at the back

Pointed on the front

Hooves are split

MOOSE

Similar to deer but much larger

(5-7 inches)

Animal scat

BEAVER

Sawdust consistency

BLACK BEAR

Tubular in shape

Most likely to be coloured blue or

purple in the summer as bears love to eat berries

RACCOON

2-3 inches long

Filled with remnants of what they

have been eating

MUSKRAT

Clumped together and cylindrical

in shape

CANADA GOOSE

Usually green

GREAT BLUE HERON

White and formless

PORCUPINE

In the shape of pellets found at the

bottom of trees

BOBCAT

Segmented

Fur and bones not visible in scat

RED FOX

Long and tubular

COYOTE

Several inches long and full of animal hair

Tubular in shape

SNOWSHOE HARE

Brown and found in piles

Small and cylindrical

STRIPED SKUNK

Brown and mushy

The size of a housecat’s droppings

WHITE-TAILED DEER

Round, brown, and nugget like

MOOSE

Bigger and rounder than deer scat

Markings made by animals

Bite and chew marks

Bark is an important source of food for many animals.

The chew marks of rabbits and rodents are the easiest to identify due to their enlarged front teeth.

It is also common to find nuts that have been chewed open by rodents.

Many insects leave bite marks on leaves and chew trails beneath bark.

Branch chewed on by a rabbit Twig ripped off a tree by a deer

Rubbings

When male deer are shedding their

antler velvet, they rub their antlers on trees.

Trails

Animals often travel the same

route through a forest and will wear down the ground and grass

along the path they choose, making it easy to tell where they have been.

Things animals build

Webs and cocoons:

o Moths and butterflies spin cocoons. o Spiders spin webs to help catch prey and protect their eggs.

o Tent caterpillars also spin webs to protect their developing larvae.

Ant mounds:

o Ants create nests all over the place. Their homes are created out of large mounds of soil, sand, sticks, grass, or pine needles.

Nests:

o Wasps build large, round nests in cavities, such as in corners or holes in trees.

o Birds also build nests to lay their eggs in. Bird nests can be made out of sticks, grass, plants, and leaves.

Burrows:

o Many mammals build their homes underground by digging holes in soil.

o Others build them in trees or under logs out of leaves and twigs.

Dams and lodges:

o Beavers are nature’s engineers! If you are near a pond or wetland, look for dams and beaver lodges.

Things animals leave behind

Antlers o Some hoofed mammals, such as deer, shed their antlers every year.

Bones o Remains of dead animals, such as bones or carcasses, can be spotted in

the forest.

Feathers and fur

o Birds often lose feathers during flight. o Mammals sometimes get their fur caught on bushes or burrs.

Pellets

o Owls and other raptors spit up pellets, which contain undigested bones and hair of their prey. Pellets are round and dark in colour.

Track “Trap” Observation Sheet

Date: Time: Club:

# of different animal tracks seen: Precipitation:

Food used to bait trap: Weather:

List of animals:

Animal Evidence Scavenger Hunt

Animal Evidence Found?

1 Bite or chew marks

2 Feather

3 Animal trail

4 Scat

5 A tree rubbing

6 Tuft of fur

7 An animal home

8 Animal bone

9 Animal tracks

10 A hole that an animal used

stories in the snow! - nature nb

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