Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Tracking An Adventure

It's been a good few days for me. I was able to go on a nice hike, and I've been more active here on the internet than I have been since my accident. Just this much has worn me out though, and I knew it would. But I feel good about it all. And now I've brought you something I promised in my last post!

So, what are these snowy pictures showing? What you are seeing above are a set of squirrel tracks. The thing I have the most fun with in the snow is tracking animals. Snow is the only thing that makes this easy. You wouldn't think it at first, but finding their tracks in the snow is just about as fun as actually finding the animals.

But why would this be? It's because the tracks show us in a very good way what the animal was actually doing. It's difficult to study an animal's activities so much when we encounter that animal, because they almost always run away and hide. Then we're stuck with only a fleeting glance. But the tracks tell us so much more!

For instance, this was the first real snowfall we've had here, and when I began my hike I knew from last winter's tracks that I would find squirrel tracks in this very spot. The squirrels always gather in this place where I took these pictures. But you wouldn't really know that in the summer because you wouldn't see them here much.

And squirrel tracks almost always start at the base of a tree and end at the base of another tree. That's of course if you follow them from start to finish. Not many people would follow the tracks of a squirrel, but I do it all the time. Of course there are other animals to track as well, and I will probably show you those as the winter rolls on, but for now it's the squirrels.

But wait! What do we have here? These are no squirrel tracks. These are much smaller. I've never seen anything quite like them before, but I believe they are the tracks of a chipmunk! They are very much like squirrel tracks, but much smaller.

This was something I never expected, but my hopes were high. I really thought all the chipmunks had gone underground by now. I have read that chipmunks don't hibernate, but they spend almost all of their winter months underground.

There is an interesting story about me finding these tracks. When I was taking pictures of the squirrel tracks I thought about the possibility of finding chipmunk tracks. I quickly thought to myself that it wasn't going to happen, but the thought just wouldn't leave me. And after just a little more walking, and in an area heavy with chipmunks, I came across these tracks. It was almost as if some instinct in me knew they would be there.

Now you may wonder if they are maybe really from a bird or some other creature. Well, take a very close look at the picture above. The tracks toward the top show front and back feet. Obviously a small mammal. Too small for much other but a chipmunk or maybe a  rat-like rodent. Very similar tracks, but I've only ever seen chipmunks here.

And besides, rat tracks are much bigger. Here's a fine example of rat(Ratty) tracks, in case you were wondering. You'd never mistake them for a chipmunk or any other animal. Well, they might be mistaken for a Bigfoot if not for the fact that this creature was wearing shoes. They're certainly big(gigantic) enough. For a picture of the elusive Ratticus Giganticus you can click on this link. Trust me, it's a strange sight indeed!

That's about it for today. I'll be back with another post as soon as I'm able. Even though it's been incredibly fun, all of this activity has taken a lot out of me. Plus, our temperature here has dropped drastically. I make it a rule not to go hiking when the temperature is under 15 degrees Fahrenheit. I could probably do it, but it's just a little too cold for comfort. Until next time, this is your Everyday Adventurer, signing off!


Nature Center Magazine - I have an article up on Nature Center Magazine today that talks about more snow fun. It's actually somewhat of an extension of this one. No rat pictures, but I have some rabbit tracks on it.

23 comments:

  1. I can identify only one set of footprints - which are in the last picture :D

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  2. While you are tracking the animals on the snow, I used to tell whereabout of the monkeys by my ears.

    They are very noisy atop the trees.

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  3. Look at you, Ratty! You are back to the old Ratty again. Hooray!! Nice to see you blog hopping yesterday. :)

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  4. "It's so nice to have you back where you belong" as the old song says. One of my favorite and main activities in the deep woods in winter is tracking animals. Mostly predators like coyote, bobcat, and fisher, but nonetheless very fun.

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  5. I like to be the first tracks and often leave a pattern in the snow to say I had been there. It is fun to hone tracking skills in a new snow.When I was young we made casts of the different tracks we made.It was nice to hear from you.

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  6. glad to see you back on a hike again, animal tracks on snow are always interesting. i love the soft lighting in your pictures.

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  7. Are you and Sharkbytes on the same track today?...lol I saw squirrel tracks on her blog too so I recognized these right off.
    Those rat tracks are very distinctive, I think I could spot those anywhere

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  8. I haven't been to Sharkbytes site yet but I have often wondered if they hike together some times too Ann.

    I don't know about all winter Ratty with the chipmunks. But, I do know when way back when and Walter still went hunting he couldn't stand the little creatures.

    They would tell on him every time. That was years ago in Maine, in the winter and also in the snow.

    We don't have chipmunks down here.
    I'm so glad you're back!
    Jackie:-)

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  9. Oh my I just woke up from a long nap and my grammar in the above post proves I am not completely awake yet!

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  10. Well, Ratty, you sound just like our Ratty of yore. Maybe the snow and cold were good for you. Even with all your educational posts, I don't think I will ever get a passing grade in the "critter pawprint identification course" - I am just hopeless. Plus, I would NEVER spend all that time in the cold tracking them. Regardless, I do so enjoy reading what you have to say and seeing the incredible photographs.

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  11. Ratty- I think you called this one correctly. Book says that the consistent, diagonal placement of the front feet (with the size) is diagnostic for chipmunk. Great pics!

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  12. Tracking squirrels and chipmunks in the snow sounds like loads of fun!

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  13. Love your blog (I visit you from entrecard). Where did you get the title for your blog?

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  14. Amazing blog.One of my favorite and main activities in the deep woods in winter is tracking animals.

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  15. Glad to see you blogging and hiking again, Ratty!
    The tracks that excite me the most are when we see moose tracks us here!

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  16. Good to see you got out, it's amazing how different you can feel. I love tracks and spent many an hour as a child figuring out what I was seeing.

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  17. I bet you enjoyed that outing like it was your first Ratty, good to see you out on an adventure again.

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  18. I think tracking animals is one of my favorite things about snow too. It is certainly easier than tracking them on dirt and rocks.

    My guess on those tracks would be a chipmunk too. The paw placement and spacing look right.

    Glad to hear you are feeling better Ratty.

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  19. I have to agree Ratty, it sure is good to see you getting back to the old Ratty even if it is only a little bit. We were so excited to see you at our blog.
    I never thought about tracking a squirrel. That is interesting. We especially like the last picture. Please take care and don't try to do too much.

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  20. My son has tried to teach me to ID critter tracks. Dang I think it would be easier to see them in snow.
    Thumbs-up on the post Ratty!!!

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  21. hey.. there.. i love this post.. thank u :)

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  22. Wow, you have such a keen eye for these things. I haven't tracked animals in years. I was just in the Smokeys and was hoping to see some wildlife. Alas, I guess they were afraid of the cabin.

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  23. One of my favourite things about the snow is the fact that you can look for animal tracks...unfortunately with the temps. down to minus 12 at times we haven't seen much activity at all on the ground .

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