Tales of the Snow: The Art of Tracking

Recently, Baltimore Woods hosted a tracking event presented by the great and extremely talented Mr. Steve Montross. While a snow storm hindered many from attending, I managed to fight the winter roads and, needless to say, I found it was well worth it. 

During the presentation Steve talked extensively about the art of tracking, print tracking in particular. He described two ways to approach natural observations. The first type, of which I'm more familiar with, consists of making a check list and marking off the life list as you see new things. He explained this as being similar to meeting everyone at a party and just learning their names and what they looked like. The second way consists of taking a closer, deeper look at a particular subject, or choosing one person at the party to talk to, meet, and befriend. Steve gave the example of one watching the same robin every sunset from a comfortable rocking chair on your back yard porch. Eventually you learn more then just the robin's markings and call, your start to meet the robin and know its habits. Life details such as where it nests, its favorite evening treats, what times and where it enjoys calling to its neighbors, even its favorite bathing puddle. This second type of natural observation is what tracking lends itself to. It helps you discover and learn the spirit of an animal and do more then just mark off that this animal lives in the area, tracking allows you to explore and learn who that animal is.

First Steve took us through the basic tracking necessities: a map, flash light, first aid kit, compass, measuring tape and reference book (see bottom of article for reccomendations) to begin with. Next was some print tracking 101, like the common prints we'd likely see in the area, how to tell which way the animal was walking and if it was accelerating. He also explained the types of amazing details true experts can inference from tracks alone. Trained trackers can deduce if a dog has eaten earlier in the day, weather a cat is a house cat or a feral feline, if a fox is feeling anxious and might know you're in hot pursuit. He said real experts could even track a woodland jumping mouse over the slick rocks of Bald Mountain. Like a real life Sherlock Holmes (a tracker himself) Steve showed us how much of the skills of tracking consists of a combination of science, observations, and deductions from those observations.

A picture of the beautiful stream running through Baltimore Woods taken during our tracking adventures on that snowy day.

Next Steve took our small party out into the freshly fallen powder and the beautiful snowflake sparkling trails of Baltimore Woods. While I initially thought fresh snow would equal wonderful clear prints, I quickly realized I was mistaken. All the tracks from the previous night had completely disappeared under a white fluffy blanket and the wind was threatening to fill in any new prints that might have occurred more recently. On the other hand, we knew that all the tracks we did see were fresh and it told us who was out during that time of day and that they must be close by. 

We spotted our first prints of the day right outside the back doors, on and around the deck. The little footprints of happily hopping dark eyed juncos and chickadees speckled the lightly snow-laden porch and picnic tables, while just off of the porch we mapped the trail of a bounding red squirrel. Steve pointed out how the squirrel plans its path by moving from tree to tree, making sure an escape route is always close at hand. 

Later in our tracking adventure, we were also able to barely make out the tracks of two deer, only slight depressions in the snow; we deduced they must have been walked through a few hours before we arrived. It reminded me of something Steve had mentioned earlier, how each animal, just like people, has a different stride. By measuring and noting an animal's stride you're able to pick them out amongst a group of many and continue following only that single subject. We also stumbled upon a patch of hemlocks littered with clues about the happy daily activities of more nearby red squirrels. We finished our day seeking out a rumored fox den and trying to trace their tracks backwards to see where the foxes had come from and how they patrolled the area.

A picture of Steve picking out some red squirrel tracks amongst the hemlocks.

Overall the day was an enlightening new way to look at the spirit and lives of the wildlife that surrounds The Woods. I'd love to take some time to become friends with and learn the habits of our new beaver friends that have taken refuge on the premises. Or maybe stop by more frequently to visit that fox den and see if I can figure out where they're patrolling and who's calling that den home. 

Steve described the art of tracking as being one, like so many of the skills of older times, that's declining in popularity. His passion for tracking is contagious though and it seems to me that I've caught the bug too and there's no better place to hone my skills than at beautiful Baltimore Woods!  Hopefully we can all take a little time this winter, when the tracks are crisp in the snow, and the sun shines warm, to follow in the footsteps of a nearby nesting neighbor. Who knows, it might be a perfect opportunity to meet a new furry friend and see what a day in their shoes is like and glimpse at who it is they really are. 

To learn more about the art of tracking some recommended references are:

• The Tracker by Tom Brown Jr.
• Tracking and the Art of Seeing by Paul Rezendes
• Mammal Tracks and Signs by John Elbroch
• The Science and Art of Tracking by Tom Brown Jr. (for the more advanced)

Special thanks to Steve Montross for answering my onslaught of questions and inspiring me to write this article. 

Blog post by Kyle L. Teufel