Animal tracks through a snowy forest are a lovely thing to see in winter, but you don’t need to wait for snow to go tracking. Footprints can be left in patches of mud after rainfall, or on sandy ground. Next time you’re in the forest, take your time and have a good look at the ground to spot signs of animal life.
What to look for:
- Size of the print, length and width
- Number of toes and claw marks
- Do the prints go in a straight line or do they weave about?
- Are there any other clues around to help you with identification, for example, droppings or fur, feathers or nests?
Forest friends
Here are some of the most common creatures and their tracks to look out for in UK woodlands:
Badger
Unless you’re lucky enough to live near a badger ‘route’, you’re unlikely to spot one of these beautiful creatures, but you may be able to identify their distinctive tracks. They have a large footpad with five toes and visible claw marks.
Fox
Easily confused with dog tracks, the nimble fox’s prints are usually smaller and narrower. They have four toes and an oval-shaped pad. They are more likely to travel in straight lines than dogs.
Deer
Deer prints vary in size according to their species, but they all leave two long imprints on the ground, usually coming to a point at the front end.
Squirrel
Squirrel prints can look like tiny pointy hands, with five toes and claws and small pad marks. They are similar to rabbit tracks but are usually more sharply defined.
Otter
If the webbing is visible, an otter print will stand out from other animal prints. Likely to be found near waterways, it has five toe prints and a large pad.
