What's Your Nature?

Become a Nature Up North explorer to share your encounters with wild things and wild places in New York's North Country. Post your wildlife sightings, landscape shots, photos from your outings, and even your organization's events!

Snow Hop

Posted by Joshin Atone,
North Country explorer from San Francisco, California
January 28, 2013

Rabbits' larger hind steps jump over the smaller steps and point in the direction of its movement. This is quite intuitive but I found it very interesting when I learned that fact this year, since I have absolutely no experience tracking, nor am I familiar with a wide variety of animals. A significant amount of information can be deduced from animal tracks including speed (from the gait), direction of travel (from the direction of the paws or stepping characteristics in the case of the rabbit), and sometimes even intention (climbing up a tree, escaping prey, seeking food, shelter). Other logistical facts such as time/date of animal presence can be reasoned through observing qualities of erosion and compilation. Damage on plants also suggest a series of specific events that indicate the presence of other animals. A careful, experienced observer of tracks can see a detailed tale of the wildlife in every corner of the outdoors.