Winter is the best time to develop tracking skills because snow creates almost forensic-quality imprints. After studying several guides on identifying animals and behavior by their tracks, we set out on a warm sunny day (if 26 degrees F is considered warm). We started with the exercise path before heading deeper into our urban wilds. Don’t laugh we worked on guessing gender and size of the Homo sapiens who’d been there before us and Canis lupus familiaris (dog) was also easy. Our observational skills and the guide also helped us identify squirrel, rabbit and fox.
We were fooled though the next weekend when we planned an outdoor adventure with another couple. We had reservations at an outdoor lodge and the blizzard conditions weren’t stopping us. With the guys in the front bucket seats and the gals in the backseat we drove along the major highway at about 25mph. Headed into the snowstorm we thought the big flakes became mesmerizing picked up by the headlights in the dark.
My honey saw tracks. “It might be a moose.”
The guys kept lookout eager to see a moose up close. “I see it,” one of them yelled.
“Yeah, if moose wear parkas and running shoes.” Us urban trackers should have picked up on the first sign. We passed an abandoned car on the side of the road about half a mile back.
Grab a guide, learn some signs and get out in nature with someone you care about. Happy tracking.
THE END
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