Animal tracking bridges the ancient skill of following wildlife clues with the advanced technology of modern conservation science. This practice involves observing and interpreting the subtle signs animals leave on the landscape, offering a window into their lives, movements, and habits. Tracking provides an intimate connection to the natural world for enthusiasts and researchers, allowing for a deeper understanding of ecosystem dynamics. Its utility extends from casual observation to informing large-scale scientific studies, such as population health assessments and habitat mapping. Mastering these techniques requires patience, a keen eye for detail, and an understanding of both traditional knowledge and contemporary tools.
Interpreting Physical Signs
The fundamental step in tracking involves identifying the physical evidence an animal leaves behind, primarily tracks, scat, and feeding signs. Analyzing a track begins by determining the major animal group, often by looking for the presence or absence of claw marks. Canine tracks, such as those from a wolf, typically show the imprint of four toes and claws because their claws are non-retractable. Feline tracks, including those of mountain lions, are generally more rounded, have a two-lobed heel pad, and lack claw marks, as their claws are retracted while walking.
The pattern of tracks, known as the gait, provides information about the animal’s movement and speed. A trotting canine often places its hind foot directly into the front foot’s impression, a pattern called direct register, creating a clean, straight line of prints. Conversely, animals like rabbits use a bounding gait, where the larger hind feet land ahead of the front feet, resulting in a distinctive grouped pattern of four prints. The shape of the main pad can also be telling, as a dog’s foot is usually more symmetrical than a cat’s, which has a more prominent leading toe.
Scat, or animal droppings, is an informative sign that can reveal the species and its recent diet. Carnivore scat tends to be tubular and segmented, often containing undigested materials like fur, bone fragments, or feathers. Herbivore scat is typically pellet-shaped or clumpy due to the high fiber content, such as the pebble-like pellets left by deer or the larger ones from elk. Omnivore scat is highly variable, reflecting a mixed diet and may contain seeds, berries, or insect parts.
Evidence of feeding provides specific clues about the species and its behavior. Deer lack upper incisors, causing them to tear or nip vegetation and leave a ragged edge on browsed twigs. Rodents, possessing strong, continuously growing incisors, leave distinct, parallel gnaw marks on nuts, bones, or bark. Specialized signs include the way a squirrel strips the scales from a pine cone, leaving a ragged base. Another sign is how a bird of prey plucks feathers from its kill site, which differs from the chewed feathers left by a fox.
Understanding Movement and Behavior Patterns
Beyond static physical signs, the time of day and local landscape offer dynamic information about animal activity. Understanding an animal’s temporal pattern is necessary, as species are classified as diurnal (active during the day), nocturnal (active at night), or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk). Deer, elk, and rabbits are examples of crepuscular species that move during the low-light hours of twilight, often to avoid predators. Conversely, many birds of prey and squirrels are diurnal, while owls and raccoons are nocturnal.
Animals tend to follow predictable routes through their habitat, creating game trails. These routes often connect resources such as feeding grounds, bedding areas, and water sources, or follow the path of least resistance. Trackers look for signs that indicate the direction of travel, which can be subtle but reliable. The toes of a print generally point in the direction the animal was moving. The deeper end of a track impression usually indicates the initial impact and, therefore, the direction of travel.
On soft ground or snow, a slight drag mark or displaced material, sometimes called a “horseshoe valley,” is visible just in front of the toe impressions, confirming forward momentum. The length of the stride and the straddle (the width between the tracks) can also indicate the animal’s speed and state. A longer stride and wider straddle may suggest the animal was running or bounding. These non-physical clues complement the analysis of tracks and signs.
Technological Tracking Methods
Modern technology has revolutionized animal tracking, allowing researchers to gather data with unprecedented scale and precision. VHF (Very High Frequency) telemetry involves fitting an animal with a transmitter that emits a radio pulse. Field biologists must use a receiver and directional antenna to manually locate the animal. This method is cost-effective for real-time observation and tracking smaller species due to the tag’s light weight and long battery life. However, data granularity is low, as it only provides a location when a researcher is present to take a reading.
GPS (Global Positioning System) collars represent a technological leap, offering fully automated data collection and remote download capabilities. These devices collect a large volume of precise location data points, which are transmitted via satellite or cellular network. GPS units are heavier and more expensive than VHF tags, limiting their use to larger animals and requiring more power, though newer models incorporate solar charging. Researchers adhere to a guideline that the collar should not exceed 4 to 5 percent of the animal’s body weight to minimize behavioral impact.
Camera traps are a non-invasive tracking tool, consisting of a motion-activated camera and infrared sensor placed in the field. Strategic placement is necessary for effective data collection. Cameras placed perpendicular to a game trail maximize the likelihood of capturing wide-ranging species like carnivores. Conversely, random or systematic placement is used to get an unbiased estimate of a species’ abundance or activity patterns. Camera traps are typically positioned low to the ground, between 30 to 60 centimeters, to capture both small and large mammals.
Remote sensing technologies, such as drones and satellite imagery, allow for large-scale habitat and herd tracking. Drones equipped with thermal cameras are useful for locating elusive or nocturnal animals by detecting their heat signatures, even through dense foliage. Fixed-wing drones cover vast areas for large-scale surveys and mapping. Multirotor drones offer stable hovering for detailed inspections or precise species counts in a smaller area. This technology reduces human disturbance and enhances the safety of field researchers.
Safety and Ethical Considerations in Tracking
Responsible tracking requires adherence to personal safety measures and ethical guidelines to protect both the tracker and the wildlife. Personal safety begins with situational awareness, particularly when moving through areas that may contain large or dangerous animals. Trackers should never attempt to approach, corner, or interfere with a wild animal. A simple technique to gauge a safe viewing distance is the “thumb trick.” If the animal is not entirely covered by the observer’s thumb when the arm is extended and one eye is closed, the observer is too close.
Ethical practice centers on the principles of Leave No Trace, requiring observers to avoid disturbing the environment, tracks, or animal caches. This means not removing artifacts, such as feathers or bones, and storing food securely to prevent animals from becoming habituated to human food. Wildlife welfare is paramount, and tracking must prioritize observation over interference. Legal constraints also exist, as federal and state laws, such as the Endangered Species Act, protect vulnerable animals. Handling or tagging any wild animal requires specific permits and licenses from governing agencies. Furthermore, sharing sensitive tracking data, such as GPS locations, carries the risk of exploitation by poachers, leading some parks to ban the use of public VHF receivers.