Welcome to the KIDS CORNER

Learn about Tracking Animals

TRACKING IS EASY

As you wander in the dusty trails of the park , you will notice the intricate patterns of animal tracks on the ground. A variety of animals can be found in the park, from mice to mountain lions. This page will help you identify some of the tracks you may likely find in the park. Some animals are very common, others are rarely seen. Even if you don't see the animal itself you will still be able to identify if from its tracks.

Click here for TIPS FINDING TRACKS which are provided at the bottom of this page.

ANIMAL PAW TRACKS  (Artwork by Kim Cabrera, 1994)

Can you identify each of the following paw tracks? Point your cursor and click on each to find out the correct answer and to learn about that animal. Can you find the Mountain Lion print? Mule Deer? Bobcat? Raccoon? Opossum? Squirrel? Skunk?

Tips for Finding Tracks

The best time to find tracks on the trails is early in the morning before many hikers have been by. The more people that have been on the trail ahead of you, the more likely it is that the tracks have been trampled. Some of the best places to find tracks are near water. The mud near streams holds tracks well for a long time. The fine details of an animal's print show up better in the mud. The fine dust of the trails is another excellent place to find tracks.

When viewing tracks, it is best to keep the track between you and the sun. This will help highlight the shadows in the track and make it stand out from surrounding soil. One nice thing about tracks is that they are EVERYWHERE! Print this page and take it with you and use it to identify the tracks.

June 1997

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