(by Emily Peters)
Prepare your snow boots and your favorite knitwear because…WINTER IS COMING! That’s right, folks, the Winter Solstice is arriving on December 21st. While many of you may fear the resurfacing of your deep longing for a 4:30 bedtime, fear not! Winter can be a great time to get outside and search for wildlife. Bare boned forests may provide more opportunities for spotting animals making their supermarket sweep of remaining forage. Better yet, the first blanket of snow sets the stage for one of my favorite winter activities, animal tracking. The bright crust of snow brings light to stories unseen in the drier months. Temporary indents of footprints can reveal the behavior of wildlife, where they are traveling, and what they are eating. Winter animal tracking is one of the simplest ways both adults and children can reconnect with nature during a season that demands retreat. Here are a few tips for getting started on your first animal tracking adventure this winter:
- Get outside and start with the basics! Whether it is in your backyard, local park or trail systems, the simple act of searching for tracks or signs of activity can be a great way to challenge yourself and engage in the present movement. Widen your search beyond pawprints. Keep your senses open to evidence of activity such as antler rubbings on trees, bite and chew marks, food scraps, scats, feathers and fur, or resting spots.
- Ask Questions. Inquiry is a great tool, especially if you are tracking with kids. (Not all questions require answers. Just encouraging kids to ask questions helps inspire creativity and interest in their surroundings.) Ask questions like:
- What wildlife have you seen at this location before? Do you think they are awake or hibernating during the winter?
- What are the ways these animals move? Do they hop, bound, slide, or walk?
- What do their feet look like? Are they small or big? Do they have hooves or toes? Where is the animal going and what is it doing?
- Bring Materials. While all you need for tracking is your curiosity and (maybe) warm clothing, certain resources can help you improve your winter tracking skills.
- Field guides on local wildlife and animal tracking.
- Free resources such as New Hampshire Fish and Game’s Pocket Guide to N.H. Animal Tracks or Wildlife Scat Card.
- Binoculars or magnifying glasses for a closer look.
- Slow down. In a world that demands so much of our energy and attention, winter provides us with the gift of slowness. Attuning ourselves to the world around us is a small way we can resist these demands and better yet, build a relationship with the earth that nourishes us.
If you would like to practice more of your winter tracking skills, consider booking a snowshoe excursion! Visit our school and public programs page for more information.