Tracks in the Snow
When I was younger, one of my favorite family activities was when my Dad would take us kids out to the woods to explore. He would point out different tracks and all kinds of other amazing things. My Dad taught us a lot about nature and the world around us while spending quality time with all of us. These are some of my greatest childhood memories and I love passing all of it on to my daughter.
Opossum Tracks
It's mid-February and ironically, right around Valentine's Day Opossums and Raccoons begin breeding activity! These tracks came from a hole in the side of our barn where the metal skirting was pushed open by a vine. They continued on through the remnants of corn stalks in the garden, across the icy driveway and ended at the great Black Walnut Tree, not too far from the house. The next day, I went back out to check on our opossum and a fresh trail led from the tree off to the neighbor's.
Mouse Tunnels
I couldn't get any good mouse tracks but these are mouse tunnels. They were all over between the garden and the Black Walnut Tree. There was a fox hopping through the back pasture early one morning and I'm certain it was after one of these little guys.
Deer Tracks
We have a large herd of deer that travel through our yard almost every night. They love to feast on the acorns under our giant Oak and the cabbage and other leftovers in the garden. Generally, only bucks are heavy enough to press their dew claws into the ground and make a print. However, if the snow is deep enough a doe's dew claw print can be seen as well. The dew claw print is easy to spot in the last photo.
Rabbit Tracks
We have rabbits all over the back pasture and in the woods. They come out at night to raid the leftovers in the garden, like kale and cabbage. They also love our compost pile with it's cucumber peels and strawberry heads. You can tell rabbit tracks because the two smaller front feet do not hit perfectly parallel.
Small Bird Tracks
These tracks were made by sparrows, juncos and other small birds around our bird feeders. We also see many mourning doves and blue jays. Squirrels will occasionally fill their cheek pouches as well. I also caught a squirrel removing the stuffing from the outdoor cushion and carrying it back to his nest. Those babies will be living in the lap of luxury with their cushy bed!
Squirrel Tracks
Unlike rabbit tracks, where the two front feet often do not land parallel to one another, squirrel tracks usually do have front feet landing parallel. This is easy to see in the first photo. Another easy way to tell squirrel tracks is when they lead up to a tree and then disappear. Last time I checked, rabbit's don't climb trees!
Tigger Tracks
(Domestic Dog)
Tigger is a 65 pound, German Shepherd and who-knows-what-else dog. His tracks are about the same size as a coyote's. Which I have heard nearby but not seen any sign of on our property!
Pepper Tracks
(Domestic Cat)
Pepper is a cat that passes through just about every day. I have seen him or her twice. Pepper is a very large, well fed, gray cat with white paws. When every last morsel of food is gone I know that Pepper has been by to visit.
Kinka Tracks
(Domestic 6-Toed Cat)
Kinka is our barn cat. She is very special in that she was born with a kinked tail, shaped like a paperclip, and six toes on all of her feet. Since she isn't really going outside yet I found paw prints in the mud inside the barn. You can easily count the five toes that hit the ground. The difference between Kinka's and Pepper's tracks are obvious.
