Watch for Winter Tracks
Even after the lightest snowfall, the activity of our unseen neighbors can be found the next day by observing their tracks. Squirrels, rabbits, voles, fox, owls, coyotes, deer and neighborhood pets are all active in the dead of winter and leave evidence of their travels. Often the trails criss-cross and stories can abound in the snow.
Viewer Tip: Play detective and follow some animal tracks in the snow this winter. Who went where and why? Did they return or did they become part of the food chain? New England Wild Flower Society recommends using a “trail guide to animal tracks” to identify different animal prints in the snow. Look for other clues, like chewed twigs. Rabbits bite through twigs and branches with a clean cut, while deer leave a scraggly end to the twigs they have eaten. Animal droppings can also provide clues to what has been eaten recently.
Seasons: Fall, Winter
This tip is provided by New England Wild Flower Society. Learn more at www.newenglandwild.org.
