Sign Tracking

Introduction

Sign Tracking is every indication of animals passing through an area other than their tracks. It can be more effective than regular tracking since animals often move across areas of the landscape where the substrate doesn’t allow you to clearly see their tracks. We begin by understanding that nature is a series of “islands.” Animals tend to congregate around, and move between these islands and what are known as transition zones. While there may be some animals in the open forest, or in a meadow, These places typically do not have what animals need in order to feel safe and have adequate food.

What is a Transition Zone?
Transition zones are the areas between a forest and a field, or an area in a forest that doesn’t have as much tree cover, allowing for a wider variety of plant species to grow. Transition zones are places that have more biodiversity than the surrounding areas. They provide more food sources that are accessible to everything from rabbits to deer. These areas also provide good cover so that the animals in and around them can feel safe. To simplify think; good diversity, good cover, good shelter/bedding areas.

How do we find Transition Zones?
The easiest way is to start with “Landscape tracking.” Imagine yourself as an eagle flying high above you and looking down. Search for areas with dense growth, a water source, a field or meadow. These are good places to start. A wonderful tool we have access to these days is satellite imagery. Use google earth on your computer, or Satellite view on whatever map software your cell phone has. These can be helpful in finding transition zones.

Hierarchy of Animal Trails
Just like humans, animals have networks of “Roadways” They use to move from place to place. And just like humans, there are different types of roadways. Think about humans for a minute. We have the interstate system, which are large, busy highways that cover great distances, Once you get off of the interstate you will find smaller highways that are still busy, but have less traffic than an intestate. Finally, we have small residential streets. These tend to be quiet and have little traffic.

Trails
An animal “interstate” Is called a Trail. A trail is very well used and easy to see on the landscape. They are used by multiple species. I have a trail behind my cabin with a camera on it. In the same week, I will get photos of squirrel, rabbits, skunks, bobcat, coyote, deer, and Mountain lion. Trails can cover great distances, and typically link transition zones. They will also typically follow the path of least resistance across the landscape. Animals will always follow the path of least resistance unless they are being pursued. Animals are always trying to conserve energy. Trails are good spots to hunt because so many species use them. One note of caution. The animals in the area will be VERY familiar with their trails, so if you alter them or leave to much human odor around they may abandon them for a while.

Runs
Runs will be less used and less worn than trails. Think of them as exits off of Trails. Runs are used to link trails to food sources, water, or bedding areas. Runs also tend to be more species-specific. A rabbit run will be smaller than a coyote run. Runs are subject to abandonment for a period of time if the food source it leads to is depleted.

Sleeps/Bedding Areas
These will be VERY species-specific. Its a place where an animal feels most safe. It will most likely have multiple escape routes.

Chews on Vegetation and Trees
Most animals eat plant matter, and different animals chew things in different ways. Let’s talk about a blade of grass. If you find a blade of grass that has a sharp, angular cut that looks like someone snipped it with scissors, that was most likely done by a rodent. Rodent’s teeth are sharp, and they are designed to cleanly cut plant matter. If you find a blade of grass that looks as if it has been torn in two, It’s most likely a member of the deer species. Members of the deer family do not have top teeth, so they grasp what they are eating and tear it. If you find grass that looks like its been chewed on heavily and maybe even has some holes in it, that is most likely caused by a predator/omnivore. These animals have sharper teeth and they will gnaw on vegetation when they fell the need to eat some. If you find larger trees and saplings that have been chewed and have fallen over, especially near water, there are most likely beavers around. Beavers like to eat the inner bark of trees, and will also use trees and saplings to construct their dams.

Hair/Fur
If we look closely at the ground around trails and runs, we may be able to find hair or fur. Hair and fur are chemically the same thing but have different qualities. Fur is softer, and a uniform length while hair is more course, and can grow fairly long depending on the species and time of the year. Furbearers are animals such as rabbits, raccoons, mice, and beavers. Members of the deer family have hair. You can also find hair and fur stuck in vegetation that grows along trails, or places where animals go over/under fences. In Colorado, I found a well-used animal trail that had a barbwire fence running across is. I found hairs and fur from deer, elk, coyote, bobcat, Mountain lion, and raccoon on the same section of the fence.

Scat
Learning to identify animal scat is a valuable tool to learn not only what animals there may be in an area, but what they are eating. As a general rule scat that consists of pellets is herbivore scat. Small pellets could be a rabbit, Bigger pellets are probably deer. Here in Oregon I once found a place with rabbit, deer, and elk scat all in the same few square feet. They all had a similar shape, but the sizes varied greatly. Other animal scat can vary in shape, size, and length. Use a stick to pick it apart! What do you see? is there fur in it? bones? grasses? Mushrooms? Nuts and seeds? Animals such as coyotes and raccoons will eat just about anything. I have found coyote scat that was full of iridescent beetle shells once! How fresh the scat is can be a good indicator of how recently an animal has been in an area. Certain animals will use scat as a territorial marker as well.

Feathers, Bones, and Antlers
Feathers can help us to identify what types of birds are in the area. You may find a single feather from time to time. Birds shed feathers the same way we shed hair. If you find a few feathers in one spot it may mean a predator tried to grab a bird but it got away. If you find a whole pile of them chances are the predator got its meal.
Bones are also a fairly common find in the woods. Trying to decipher what animal a single bone comes from can be quite difficult. If you find one bone chances are if you search the area you will find some more. If you notice chew marks on the bones that may be from rodents trying to get a bit of calcium, while also keeping their teeth sharp. Rodent’s teeth never stop growing, so they need to regularly chew on hard things to keep them from growing too long.
Antlers are shed by members of the deer family every year in late winter, and start growing again in the spring. If you find an antler it may also have chew marks on it depending on how long it has been on the ground.

Scrapes/Scratches on Trees
When wandering through the woods you may find trees that have scratches or scrapes on them. If they are vertical scratches it could be a member of the cat family using it to sharpen its claws. How high up the tree they are could tell you this size of the cat. Bears will also use trees to tend to their claws. If you find scratches on trees that are more of a crosshatch pattern, chances are it’s a deer or elk rubbing its antlers on the tree. They will do it when their antlers stop growing in order to rub the velvet off of them. During the breeding season, they will rake their antlers on trees in order to mark their territory.

Hazards and Staging

Staging

Animals sign can be found just about everywhere, even in the city. When working with your groups, use different stages to talk about what times of animals you can expect to find sign for.

When you do discover animal sign that is interesting, it is important to consider how you will display it for your group. Animal sign can be fragile, and children will want to touch and interact with it. Set clear expectations up front, such as "look at this only with your eyes, do not touch it." Other students may have a hard time getting a view when the group is crowded around the object or area of interest. It can be helpful to have groups break up and see it in turns, or form a horse shoe shape around the viewpoint.

Hazards

Sign tracking is a very safe, engaging activity. The biggest hazard is keeping vigilant for toxic / hazardous plants that students can interact with, constant witness and monitoring your group, and when moving through dense areas, broken branches and objects that can cause injury.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

• Ecology
• Flora and fauna in an area
• Awareness
• Animal trailing & tracking
• Hunting & stalking
• Stealth and movement
• Respect for wildlife

Activities

Search and Breakout - All members of a team get a clear boundary in an area. Individuals or teams can spread out and try and find animal sign on their own. When the group gets back together, every team can share what they found.

Recreate - When a group finds animal sign, the students can attempt to "recreate" that sign so they can understand what an animal had to do to create that marking on the landscape. Kids can act it out and demonstrate with teachers.

Guide Books - Teams or individuals can find signs out in the landscape and use guidebooks to try and identify the animal that left the sign.