January 30, 2011
Animal Tracking with David Brown
A Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation Program
The filled program met at the Maynard Ecology Center (Basement of Neville Place) where attendance and enthusiasm was high.
Left Photo: Program participants listen as tracker-naturalist Dave Brown (center - blue hat) explains how to identify wild animal tracks. For example, ground condition variables (like wet ordry snow) create tracks with slight variations by the same species. In addition to identifying tracks, analyzing and interpreting the clues animals leave behind enable us to better understanding their behavior.
Middle Photo: Tracks in the Snow The "triangular" pattern are from rabbit (cottontail) (Sylvilagus sp.)* tracks. The "heart shaped" pattern (foreground) was created by randomly placed footsteps of program participants.
Right Photo: Since over an hour was spent outside (walking off-path) several participants wisely wore snowshoes (left foreground).