The Great Animal Tracker

So there I was, just entering my normal nature trail when I found some odd dog-like tracks. I'd normally ignore them because this particular park allows dogs, but there was just something different about them. Oh sure, they look like the tracks of a dog, but it was their pattern that interested me.

I didn't get the proper pictures to demonstrate this, but most dogs that are with humans travel in a meandering chaotic pattern; the same as an exploring puppy of any canine creature might. Dogs are like eternal puppies, considering humans their adults. But creatures like coyotes, wolves, and foxes act like adults when they are grown.

These tracks travel in a straight line with no thought of exploring every tree, bush, or interesting smell. And they are also traveling the deer trail, not the human trail, which almost no dog would do here. This is why the tracks are so intriguing to me. But just what exactly are they? I can't say I know, but I can guess.

First, notice in the bottom left of the picture. That's the edge of my boot there. See the print I left before attempting to move my big feet out of the picture? This snow is deep, but the print shows that the snow is hard enough that I didn't sink down. The animal track did, so it's obviously at least a few days old.

But what is the animal track? Well, it still could be just a normal, everyday dog. But I'm going to go with my fantasy and a little knowledge and guess either a coyote  or a fox. The tracks are smaller than what a wolf might make, and there aren't any wolves around here. But we do have coyotes and foxes. And they have both been reportedly seen in this exact spot of this park. Yup, I talk to people here all the time.

This is the very same direction these two types of animals have been seen going by those I have talked to. The one problem is that I have very little experience with these tracks, and both leave very dog-like prints. After some study, I think they look maybe different than coyote tracks; very much like fox tracks, but a bit bigger. So they're either a dog by itself, or I'm not experienced enough with this type of track yet. You decide.

And what do we have here? Wabbit twacks! Uh, rabbit tracks! The rabbit came through here after the canine animal, but obviously before me. The tracks sink in too much for such a small animal to be here very soon before me, but they show that the snow was harder than when the bigger animal came through.

That straight line of the rabbit tracks is similar to the straight line that the other creature left. I didn't get the whole line of other creature's tracks because the sun was shining in exactly the wrong direction. My shadow would have gotten in the picture in the other, and that would have been just unforgivable.

It's just... If I show you my shadow then my secret identity would be revealed, and we just can't have that. ...Well, I guess I can tell you. I will finally reveal myself to you. I'm... I'm... I'm Batman!

See you next post! Same bat time, same bat website!


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