Albany— The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation advises families looking for outdoor activities that winter is the best time to look for animal tracks in the snow.
“It’s fun to be a detective and find out what animals have been roaming your gardens and trails,” DEC said in a statement.
Here are some tips from DEC to get you started.
- Snow conditions can make a difference in track appearance. Wet snow captures prints better than powdery snow.
- Members of the canine family (coyotes, foxes, or dogs) usually leave claw marks on their toes, whereas felines (bobcats, domestic cats) do not. Both families should be able to see her four toes on both front and back feet.
- Rodents such as squirrels, chipmunks, mice, muskrats, and voles typically have four toes on their front feet and five on their back feet. Nails may or may not be visible.
- Bring your notebook, camera, or field guide. In some cases, the animal’s droppings or droppings can help identify it.The rabbit looks like a small ball of sawdust.
For more information on the activity, please go online at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/tracks1.pdf