Blue Heron Ardea herodias |
The majestic Great Blue Heron can be seen across the North American continent. It is not unusual to find Blue Heron tracks near a lake or backyard pond. Fish make up a large part of the Great Blue Heron s diet. They often spear them with their long pointed beaks or swallow them whole. |
Vast herds of Bison once covered prairies from Mexico to Canada in numbers estimated at 70 million. So many buffalo, as they are frequently called, were slaughtered during the 19th century that they faced extinction. Today large herds of Bison live in protected areas. The hind print usually registers on or near the fore print in an alternating walking pattern. If you see large tufts of brown hair on a tree or post, look out! A 2000-pound bull Bison may be nearby. |
Bison Bison bison |
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The Black Bear is the smallest and most common bear in North America. Watch out! Finding a fresh bear track in the forest might mean a bear is just around the corner. The bear s print is wider than a human s is but about as long. The fore foot has a small heel pad that may not show. The alternative tracks double register, the hind over the front paws. |
Coyotes live only in North America, from Alaska to Mexico and coast to coast. They prefer to hunt rodents and larger prey in open grasslands or woodlands, often in packs. The Coyote leaves a direct trail, like it knows exactly where it is going. The front paws have a larger heel pad than the hind paws. They walk in an alternative pattern, placing the hind food in the fore foot tracks. |
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Black Bear Ursus Americanus
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Coyote Canis latrans
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White-tailed Deer are the most common deer in North America. They are named for the bright white fur on the underside of their tail. A fleeing deer holds up its tail as a warning sign of danger. Look for heart-shaped deer tracks on the edges of forests and in the brushlands. |
The Eastern Cottontail has a wide range and lives in a variety of habitats including woodlands, fields, and swamps. When sitting or hopping, the rabbit leaves its characteristic long hind foot imprint. The Bobcat (Felis rufa) is a fearless hunter of rabbits. It catches its prey by springing on the unsuspecting hare. |
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Deer Odocoileus virginianus
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Rabbit Silvilagus floridanus
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Raccoons are intelligent little animals, full of curiosity. They are very adept at using their paws to open drawers, unhook latches, and even unscrew jars. They are good swimmers and use their fingers to catch fish, frogs and shellfish. The print they leave in the sand or mud looks similar to a human handprint. Racoon walking tracks are unusual-a front left paw print next to a hind right and the next grouping reversed. |
Gray Squirrels spend most of the year gathering and burying nuts for winter. In cold months they get cozy in their homes of tangled twigs, sticks, and leaves perched high in the fork of a tree. All winter long squirrels locate their stash of buried nuts with a very keen sense of smell. Fresh tracks in the muddy underbrush may reveal a squirrel s search for a tasty meal. |
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Raccoon Procyon lotor
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Squirrel Sciurus carolinensus
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