I apologise if this should be in the Tracking Sub-Forum, but there didn't seem to be much there so wasn't sure if it is in use still? MODs please move this thread if its in the wrong place.
Anyway, I was just (around 10:00 - 11:00 pm) up at the local woods (I had to go to drain down a cabin to stop pipes bursting) and had a fantastic opportunity to do a little tracking as there were many undisturbed tracks in the snow, and the moonlight & my headtorch helped identify them by casting shadows in the depressions.
They were mainly squirrels tracks, with the occasional rabbit / hare (unsure which).
However, I was most pleased when I came across a couple of sets of tracks from badgers crossing one of the paths in the wood. I knew there was a set around 100 metres away down the hill which was used as a winter set, but I wasn't aware how far from it they strayed (particularly further uphill into the wood). What was even more interesting was that when I next encountered the tracks on a parallel path further into the wood (but in line with the first sighting), I also identified a lot of disturbance to the ground where I guess they had been foraging with their snouts for food.
Whilst I have read a few books on tracking and been shown various animal tracks by others, I had not thought that I knew very much myself. Granted I still don't profess to know a lot, but I have been pleasantly surprised by how much I was able to identify.
It is unfortunate that these tracks last such a short amount of time as they will soon melt away, but so exilerating to have had the chance. I know where I'll be heading next time it snows !!
Has anyone else had similar opportunities?
For those of you who haven't, I thoroughly recommend making the time as it really is a great experience even if you know very little like myself.
It's given me a renewed enthusiasm to do some tracking in 'normal' ground conditions in the future as well.
Anyway, I was just (around 10:00 - 11:00 pm) up at the local woods (I had to go to drain down a cabin to stop pipes bursting) and had a fantastic opportunity to do a little tracking as there were many undisturbed tracks in the snow, and the moonlight & my headtorch helped identify them by casting shadows in the depressions.
They were mainly squirrels tracks, with the occasional rabbit / hare (unsure which).
However, I was most pleased when I came across a couple of sets of tracks from badgers crossing one of the paths in the wood. I knew there was a set around 100 metres away down the hill which was used as a winter set, but I wasn't aware how far from it they strayed (particularly further uphill into the wood). What was even more interesting was that when I next encountered the tracks on a parallel path further into the wood (but in line with the first sighting), I also identified a lot of disturbance to the ground where I guess they had been foraging with their snouts for food.
Whilst I have read a few books on tracking and been shown various animal tracks by others, I had not thought that I knew very much myself. Granted I still don't profess to know a lot, but I have been pleasantly surprised by how much I was able to identify.
It is unfortunate that these tracks last such a short amount of time as they will soon melt away, but so exilerating to have had the chance. I know where I'll be heading next time it snows !!
Has anyone else had similar opportunities?
For those of you who haven't, I thoroughly recommend making the time as it really is a great experience even if you know very little like myself.
It's given me a renewed enthusiasm to do some tracking in 'normal' ground conditions in the future as well.
