Wildlife Sign Developing skills for conducting sign

or track surveys

Purpose of lab

• Teach you how to identify tracks, scat, and sign left by common wildlife species

• Understand subtle differences in tracks among various mammalian species

• Develop tools to assist with identification of wildlife tracks in various tracking substrates

Mammals - Toe patterns

• 2 toed hooved

• 4 toed with heal pad

• Five “fingered”

• 4 front, 5 hind toes

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Clumping will depend on diet

Feral hog, wild boar (Sus scrofa)

Coloration on feral swine Note width of track, lack of point on terminal end, and curvature in wild boar

Canids, Felids, and Lagomorphs

Four toe pads and one heal pad

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Dog or coyote? Notice splaying in claw marks

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Note hair between pads and segments of scat with twist

Note shape of metacarpal pads and splaying of toes, size with presence of hair will help distinguish from coyotes 2 to 2.25 inch track vs 2.5 inch for coyotes

Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)

Note that metacarpal pads closer to center of register Track < 2 inches

Note consistent gate pattern Scat – key is the smell, distinctive musky odor distinguishes from coyote

Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Typically can’t see claw marks, but pay attention to tracking medium

Are both of these bobcat?

Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

Front track jumped by back

Bark foraging – note height, as moose create similar damage Girdling of seedlings

Swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus) Note environment Fecal deposits on stumps, logs, high ground – scattered Bigger pellets

Five fingered group Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Scat has blocky end and will be dominated by seeds or invertebrates

Note left front hits with right rear and vice versa

2 inch track on rear, 1.75 inch on front

Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

Note tail drag marks and double stamp on track

If you have muskrats, you’ll see mounds and huts

Beaver (Castor canadensis) Webbed hind foot with large heel

Mink (Neovison vison) - Mustelids

May see webbing on hind foot

Note double stamp on tracks and size of track - tiny

River otter (Lontra canadensis)

Distinct track pattern whether walking, loping, or running

Black bear (Ursus americanus)

Note height of claw marks to determine relative size, size of scat, and walking pattern where hind foot eclipses front