Man-made trails through forests and by riversides are walkways for all sorts of wild animals. Stop mistaking dog tracks for wolves and moose tracks for deer with the tips below.
DEER: Deer tracks, shaped like upside down hearts, are about three inches long and are often found on hiking trails. A doe’s back hooves usually fall on top of her front hooves or slightly outside of them. A buck has a wider chest than hindquarters, making his rear tracks fall to the inside. his rear tracks won’t reach the front ones.
WOLF: Many a camper has had their heart race when they found a wolf track, only to meet up with a dog further along the trail. Mature wolves have larger paws than pets; more than four inches long. Their front paws are larger than their rear, and elongated middle toes help distinguish their tracks from the rounder track of your furry best friend.
RIVER OTTER: Inspect the ground near muddy banks and look for an almost round track, two and a half inches wide. otter claws are close to the toes, giving the toes a pointed look. in soft soil you may see evidence of webbing between the five digits. Look for shellfish remains nearby…
Finish reading this article in the 2013 Spring issue of Canoeroots & Family Camping. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read the rest online for free, here.
