Tracks Signs of Nd Wildlife.Pdf

Bighorn Sheep Bighorn sheep tracks: Badger Badger tracks: River Otter River otter tracks: BIG GAME Front track slightly larger Front track significantly larger Front/Rear– 2” L, 2-1/4” W TRACKS AND SIGNS OF A POCKET GUIDE NORTH DAKOTA WILDLIFE Front–2-1/8” - 3-3/8” L, Often than rear Walking stride: 5-3/4” - 14” 1-1/2” - 3” W Front–3-1/2” L, 2” W White-tailed deer White-tailed deer tracks: displays Identifying wildlife tracks is a learned art that Front track slightly larger Rear–2” - 3-1/4” L, Rear–2-1/2” L, 1-3/4” W Front–1-3/8” - 4” L, 1/2” - 2-3/8” W imprints of Walking stride: 5-1/2” - 9-3/4” takes practice in the field. 7/8” - 2-7/8” W Walking stride: 12”-25” large front Diane Hargreaves Tracking is a great way to understand which Rear–1-1/4” - 3-1/2” L, claws. Trails Otter tracks in snow are species are present, as well as understand the 3/4” - 2-3/8” W Hoof print often begin often accompanied by Walking stride: 13” - 26” and end with relationships between animals, their food sources generally sliding marks or tail White-tailed less pointed a burrow. and favored habitats throughout the year. deer walking dragging. pattern in front. Track identification can be a bit easier by know- Muskrat Muskrat tracks: in snow Front– 1” L, 1” W ing what species are more likely to be found in a FURBEARERS Raccoon Raccoon tracks: Rear– 2.5” L, 1” W given area or habitat. Mule deer Mule deer tracks: Front–1-1/2” L, 2” W This guide provides general descriptions and Front track slightly larger Coyote Coyote tracks: Rear– 3” L,, 1-1/2” W A “shelf” impres- sizes of common North Dakota species. The foot Front–2-1/4” - 4” L, Front–2-1/2” L, 2” W sion surrounds 1-5/8” - 2-3/4” W Rear– 2” L,1-1/2” W Toes of the front the toes of the patterns which are presented on the ground may Rear–2” - 3-1/2” L, Walking stride: 13-1/2” - 17” vary, depending on whether the creature is walk- feet of a raccoon hind feet created 1-1/2” - 2-3/8” W appear “finger- ing, running, galloping or trotting. Walking stride: 15” - 25” by the stiff, long Exhibits a “hopping” like”. hairs that aid in An impression will be easier to identify in soft movement called Dog family – Canidae swimming. earth such as that found around the edge of a stotting where tracks – tracks typically show wetland. Sand and snow may be more challeng- are separated by an nail prints. Track pattern 8-15 foot stride. can vary depending on Beaver Beaver tracks: ing. Striped Skunk Skunk tracks: Front– 2” L, 2” W whether animal is walk- Front– 1” L, 1” W Pronghorn tracks: Rear– 6” L, 4” W Use other animal markings such as scat, home Pronghorn ing, galloping or trotting. Rear– 1-1/2” L, 1” W building or other behavioral signs nearby to assist Front and rear tracks Distinctive triangle Distinctive larger similar size in narrowing down your best guess. Also, think shaped rear pad. Distinctive rear track with 2-1/8” - 3-1/2” L webbed toes. what would make more sense given the location. 1-1/2” - 2-1/4” W long nails on Red Fox Red fox tracks: Beavers drag their For example, a cottontail rabbit in a sitting posi- Walking stride: 17” - 26” Front foot larger than rear front tracks. tails which often tion underneath a back yard deck may leave an Front–2-1/4” L, 1-3/4” W Walking pat- terns often cover up their impression of overlapping tracks that at first could Rear– 2” L, 1”W Walking stride: 8” - 12” irregular. tracks. appear as a large predator track. A large dog would also leave a print looking a lot like a wolf. Lack dew claws. Moose Moose tracks: To learn more, acquire a comprehensive guide Front track slightly larger containing much more information on the subject. Front–4-1/2” - 7” L, Long-tailed Weasel Long-tailed weasel tracks: Fisher Fisher tracks: Here are two excellent resources: 3-3/4” - 6” W Front/Rear–1” L, 1”W Front/Rear– 2” L, 2-1/2” W Similar to Walking stride: 7” - 11-1/2” • Mammal Tracks & Sign – A guide to North deer, but Rear–4” - 6-1/2” L, Dog family – Canidae – nail prints often present. larger. Adult 3-1/2” - 4-1/2” W Dense fur in foot often makes track less identifiable. American Species by Mark Elbroch Walking stride: 28” - 44” bulls will Similar to • Tracking and the Art of Seeing How to Read have blunt marten, Bobcat Bobcat tracks: Trails often explore Animal Tracks and Sign by Paul Rezendes hoof tips. holes, nooks and only larger. Cat family – Front/Rear– 2” L,1-3/4” W crannies in brush- Males twice Mostly, have fun and learn what you can by Felidae – no nail Walking stride: 6” - 14” piles, under buildings as large as simply being out there! Elk Elk tracks: prints – retractable and under the snow. females. Front track slightly larger claws. Exceptions may Weasels often move in Front–3” - 5” L, be climbing, on slippery a bounding pattern like Chris Grondahl 2-1/2” - 4-1/2” W surfaces and chasing Rear– 2-1/2” - 4-1/2” L, mink. TRACKS AND SIGNS OF NORTH DAKOTA WILDLIFE AND SIGNS OF NORTH DAKOTA TRACKS prey. Rear pad has two 2-1/2” - 4” W American Marten Marten tracks: Walking stride: 1818” - 35” front lobes. Twice the size of housecat tracks. Mink Mink tracks: Front/Rear– 1-1/2” L, 1-1/2” W The NDGFD receives federal financial assistance from the US Fish and Wildlife Front/Rear– 1-1/4” L, 1-1/2” W Walking stride: 5” - 9” Service. In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of Mountain Lion Mountain lion tracks: Walking stride: 3-1/2” - 7-3/4” the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Elk tracks Front– 3” L, 3-1/2” W the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the NDGFD joins the US Department of the Interior and its Bureaus in Rear– 3” L, 3” W Mink Bottom of foot can Walking stride: 19” - 32” be hairy, to the prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, The big game hoof prints above show tracks in sex (in education programs or activities) and also religion for the NDGFD. If you snow a “relaxed” track of walking on even point where it will believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility No nail prints - obscure pad details. as described above, or you desire further information, please write to: ND Game terrain. A hoof print may be spread retractable claws. and Fish Department, Attn: Chief Administrative Services, 100 N. Bismarck apart or “splayed” (see left) as an ani- Male marten may be Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095 or to: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Rear pad has two confused with female Civil Rights Coordinator, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop: MBSP- 4020, Arlington, mal attempts to get more traction mov- front lobes. Tracks Tracks often appear pointy and sharp. Virginia 22203. The TTY/TTD (Relay ND) number for the hearing or speech ing downhill, running or in loose soil. fisher. are round and Snow movement pattern often a hopping Brian Fauske impaired is 1-800-366-6888. Except for pronghorn, tracks may show asymmetrical. or loping in sets of two. Dew Claw dew claw imprints in soft substrate. 0 INCHES Vole Damage – Voles are small, mouse- Fox Squirrel Fox squirrel tracks: Upland Game Dust Bowls – Moose Scat – sized mammals that live in the prairies of OTHER ANIMALS Rear track larger ANIMAL SIGNS Upland game birds such as Moose scat is North Dakota. They are an excellent food Front–1-3/4” L, 1” W sharp-tailed grouse, pheasant larger than elk and Gray wolf tracks: Rear–2-1/4” L, 1-1/4” W Tracks are one way to determine what wildlife, and possibly how source for many species including fox, deer and is oblong Gray Wolf Often con- and turkey “bathe” in dust to Front– 4-1/2” L, 4” W many, are presently living or passing through a particular habitat. coyote and birds of prey. Vole popula- and rounded on fused with help minimize body parasites. Vole damage Rear– 4” L, 3-1/2” W tions cycle from low to high densities over both ends. It is rabbit tracks; Without actually seeing tracks, there are other ways to determine Dust bowls are found in locations Walking stride: 13” - 24” a number of years. In winters with heavy snow, voles are still about ¾-inch in rabbit front the presence of wildlife. The following section may aid you in iden- where soil is exposed such as active beneath the snow, eating what vegetation they can find, diameter and an 12345678 feet appear tifying some common signs left behind by North Dakota wildlife. cultivated tree plantings or under Dog family – Upland game including tree bark. Damage beneath the snow revealed after Moose scat inch to an inch with one in dense brush. Feathers and tracks dust bowls Canidae – nail the spring thaw is a sign the vole population is high. and a half long. Scat is generally found in piles in prints most often front of the can help you identify the species. Deer Scat – Deer are common Upland Game Scat – good moose habitat. present. Tracks other. across North Dakota. A deer’s may be confused Pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse Owl Pellets – Owls are waste can be found in the form Woodpecker Sign – Woodpeck- with a large and turkey droppings are gener- predators that eat many types of droppings called scat. Deer ers build nest cavities in dead or domestic dog. BIRDS ally lighter in color compared to of prey, but they cannot digest scat is generally found in piles mammals. They have a distinc- bones, hair and feathers. Owls dying trees. Holes in the side of Black Bear Bear tracks: Wild Turkey Wild turkey tracks: where they have bedded or tive white coloration which is the regurgitate this material in the trees are an indication wood- Front–6” L, 4” W The short rear toe 4” - 5” L where they were standing. Scat result of dried urine products (the form of a “pellet” that can look peckers have been in the area. may also be found deposited Rear–7” L, 5” W may register as a nail Deer scat birds’ digestive system is different somewhat like mammal scat. Woodpeckers also feed by bur- Walking stride: 17” - 25” hole to rear of 3 for- along a trail as the animal than mammals and the feces You can identify the difference rowing into trees for insects. These Standing ward pointing toes. moved. Scat is pointed on one and urine exit the body from the because they are many times smaller holes are less visible than snag end and slightly concave on the Sage grouse same opening). Scat is often found in large groups where Owl pellets nesting cavities, but can occur on Large five- other. Scat is generally oblong droppings toed track found in piles where birds have they have been dropped below wood siding. Turkey tracks and about ½-inch in length. roosted overnight. with wide in winter an owl’s favorite perch. They are also light grey in color and full Scat can be light brown when of hair and small undigested bones. pad. Heel deposited but turn dark brown a may or may Pocket Gopher Sign – Pocket Diane Hargreaves day or two later. Grouse Snow Cave – Sharp- not show. gophers are small mammals Deer tailed grouse have survived in Shrike Sign – The shrike is that make their living mostly scrape North Dakota for thousands of the only carnivorous songbird Pheasant tracks: underground. They are seldom Pheasant and years and have evolved to live in North Dakota. Shrikes feed Cottontail Cottontail tracks: 2” - 3-1/2” L trail seen, but a telltale sign of Rear track significantly larger Pheasant through extreme winter condi- on small mammals such as their presence are fresh, fine tracks in Grouse snow cave tions. Grouse will burrow into a mice and voles. They will also Front–1-1/4” L, 1” W snow mounds of black soil pushed Rear–2-1/2” L, 1-1/2” W Deer Scrape and Trail – Narrow trails are formed as deer move snow bank before a blizzard to eat snakes and grasshoppers. onto the surface. Another sign from one location to another. A good example of daily move- protect themselves. After a storm, they will fly out of the snow with While carnivorous, they do not in spring are round tubes of Cottontail rabbit ment is from an area where deer bed to an area where deer feed. no weather related injuries. Snow caves can often be identified by have large talons and power to black earth in ditches and tracks in snow Shrike sign The bare ground in the middle of the deer trail pictured above is the scat inside. This one also shows a wing mark left by the bird dispatch prey quickly. Shrikes fields. These were created called a scrape. Scrapes are created by bucks in the early fall as a as it escaped the hideaway. Birds such as pheasants, which were will “stab” their prey onto the thorn of tree such as a plum or use Pocket gopher soil tubes under the snow in winter when Furry feet often obscure track place to leave their scent so other deer know they are in the area. introduced to North Dakota, have not adapted to this climate and barbwire to assist in their kill. They will return later to consume Male (rooster) track gophers were busy excavating details. Rabbits move Scrapes are most often made below overhanging branches. To will stand in the wind, snow and/or cold temperatures until they the prey. is larger than female tunnels and pushing dirt into by hopping. leave scent, a buck will rub on an overhanging branch with a scent may die of exposure. tunnels in snow. (hen). gland near the eye called the preorbital gland. Skunk Sign – Skunks eat a variety Skunk excavating for grubs White-tailed Jackrabbit White-tailed jackrabbit tracks: Cottontail Habitat – Cottontail rabbits live in many places, but prefer shrubby of foods. Sometimes grubs become a Front–2-1/8” - 3-3/4” L, Waterfowl (Ducks, Geese and Swans) Snake Sign – Snakes often 1-1/2” - 2-5/8” W or brushy cover. They may also use favored target. Sod that is turned over Rear–5” L, 2-1/2” W Feet are webbed and Deer Rub – Bucks rub their antlers on smaller underground dens of other animals. in a pattern like the one shown is a do not leave large amounts leave prints that generally trees to mark their territories before the breed- Trails going into holes, hollow logs, good indication a skunk has been in of sign. In fine soil such look like the example ing season. Rubs are often found on the edges or dense brush patches is a good sign the area. Raccoons are also known to as sand, a snake “track” Jackrabbit track pattern provided, size being the of woods or along trails. A variety of tree spe- cottontails are present. Look for a round similarly dig for grubs. can be located. The other Cottontail habitat indication of a snake may difference: cies are rubbed, but favorites include willow, scat about the size of a garden pea to Snake signs be a shed skin. Duck: 2-3” L cottonwood, aspen, ash and caragana. confirm it is a cottontail. Porcupine scat Porcupine Scat – Porcupine scat is slightly Goose: 3-4” L Back rub more than ¼-inch in diameter and up to Swan: 6-7” L Beaver Lodge, Den Rabbit Sign – Cottontail rabbits an inch in length. It is slightly pointed on Beaver lodge, dam and cache Track pattern bounding and Cache – This Canada Goose scat and the white-tailed jackrabbit the ends. The color is light brown, which with a 9”-72” stride. photo shows three Deer Bed – A sign that deer were in an area may be as simple as can be found statewide. Both is a result of the digestion of tree bark, the signs that a beaver where the deer laid to rest or sun itself on the side of a hill. Areas have scat almost perfectly round. animal’s favorite food. Porcupine scat is frequents the area. Porcupine Porcupine tracks: where deer have rested for any length of time form a “bed.” Deer often found in large piles at the mouth of an Front–2-3/4” L, 1-1/2” W Cottontail scat is smaller and can First, a lodge on beds are a couple feet long Rear– 3-1/2” L, 1-3/4” W Rabbit sign be compared to the size of a small underground den or under a tree in which it has been feeding. the far side of the Goose tracks in sand Deer bed in snow and generally an oval shape. garden pea (¼-inch in diameter). Bark stripped from high in a tree is a sign a porcupine has been bank where a beaver There may be several in one Jackrabbit scat has a diameter of 3/8-inch or larger. Rabbits eat at work. family will live all Front track sig- Songbirds location. In vegetation, they many vegetative materials, but tree bark becomes a mainstay when Coyote Scat – Scat is usually in a single year. Second, a cache of sticks stored in the water nificantly smaller Coyote scat are recognized by flattened snow blankets the landscape. Bark taken from trees at or directly cord and pointed at the ends. It often for a winter food source. Finally, a dam in the than rear. Large Songbird tracks generally grass. In snow, they may be above snow level is a telltale sign rabbits are in the area. Small contains hair, which is more identifiable as foreground which likely created the water habitat claws often seen take on this appearance and recognized by melted snow shrubs and tree limbs that have been bitten off at a 45 degree angle the scat ages. Scat varies in size up to five for the beaver to survive. These water habitats also in imprints. Pads include many species like and ice or exposed earth. is evidence rabbits have been busy. inches long. provide places for many other wildlife species, such have characteristic robins, finches and sparrows. Often, scat can be found in as river otters. pebbly surface. Tracks vary in size. bedding areas.