Guess those tracks! Which animal made these tracks?
Bear track image from: https://www.wildlifeillinois.org/gallery/animal-sign/tracks/black-bear-tracks/ Black Bear!
Black bears are the only species of bear found in NC, so they are very special!
They have two front paws and two back paws, and 5 toes on each foot.
Can you count the toes on the footprints?
Check out this link to learn more about the Black Bear! https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Conserving/documents/Profiles/Black-Bear_Profile.pdf Which animal made these tracks?
Duck track image from: https://www.wildlifedecal.com/duck-track-decal-md27-waterfowl-hunting-stickers/ Wood Duck!
Wood ducks can be found in wooded swamp, freshwater marsh, and forest stream or river areas of NC.
Ducks have webbed feet which means they have a thin layer of skin that connects between their toes.
Why do you think it is helpful for ducks to have webbed feet?
Check out this link to learn more about the Wood Duck!
https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Profiles/Birds/Wood_Duck_Update_2018.pdf Which animal made these tracks?
Deer track image from: https://www.pacificconcreteimages.com/product/white-tailed-deer-footprints/ White-tailed Deer!
Deer are so adaptable that they are found in almost any type of habitat.
Deer have hooves. Their hooves have two toes covered with a hard fingernail-like material. They have another toe called a dewclaw.
Where do you think the dewclaws are?
(Hint: You can’t see it in these hoofprints, but they sometimes show when walking or running through soft surfaces like snow or mud)
Check out this link to learn more about the White-tailed Deer!
https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Conserving/documents/Profiles/White_Tailed_Deer.pdf Which animal made these tracks?
Raccoon track image from: https://www.pacificconcreteimages.com/product/raccoon-footprints/ Raccoon!
Raccoons can be found across the state of NC.
They are easily recognized because of their gray fur, black-ringed tails, and mask-like black coloring around their eyes.
They have two front paws and two back paws, and 5 toes on each foot.
Why do you think their back paws are larger and longer than their front paws?
Check out this link to learn more about the Raccoon!
https://www.ncwildlife.org/portals/0/learning/documents/profiles/raccoon.pdf Which animal made these tracks?
Turkey track image from: https://www.clipart.email/clipart/turkey-footprint-clipart-59793.html Eastern Wild Turkey!
Eastern Wild Turkeys are found in all 100 counties of NC.
Turkeys have three toes on each foot. Male turkeys have pointed growths on the back of their legs right above their feet. This is called a spur.
Why do you think male turkeys have spurs? (Hint: Spurs are very sharp)
Check out this link to learn more about the Eastern Wild Turkey!
https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Conserving/documents/Profiles/Eastern_Wild_Turkey.pdf Which animal made these tracks?
Red Wolf track image from: https://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting-trapping/trapping-laws/identify-rare-mammals.html Red Wolf!
Wolves were originally only found in Southeastern North America, but today they can be found all over the United States in zoos due to conservation efforts.
They have four feet and four toes on each foot. The bottom of their feet are called pads.
Can you count the toes on each foot? What do you think the little marks above each toe are from?
(Hint: They are kind of like toe-nails)
Check out this link to learn more about the Red Wolf!
https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Profiles/Mammals/RedWolf_Wildlife%20Profile.pdf Which animal made these tracks?
Great Blue Heron track image from: file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/ChesapeakeBayThemeDay_K-2%20(1).pdf Great Blue Heron!
Great Blue Herons are typically found around shores of open water and wetlands. They are the largest heron in NC and can get more than 3 feet tall as an adult!
They can have tracks 6-8 inches long! Some of their toes face forward and one faces back.
How many total toes do they have on each foot?
Check out this link to learn more about the Great Blue Heron!
https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Profiles/Birds/Great%20Blue%20Heron_Wildlife%20Profile_FINAL.pdf Which animal made these tracks?
Red Fox track image from: https://www.wildlifedecal.com/red-fox-track-decal-stoa-hunting-stickers/ Eastern Red Fox!
The Red Fox is 1 of only 2 fox species found in NC.
Unlike other canine species, Red Foxes grows a lot of hair between their toes. Sometimes their feet grow so much hair that you cannot see their toeprints when they leave behind tracks.
Why do you think they need that much hair on their feet?
(Hint: Foxes hunt for their food, do you think they need to be loud or quiet? How does hair help animals during the winter)
Check out this link to learn more about the Eastern Red Fox!
https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Profiles/RedFox_1.pdf