Molding true trackers

“I forced myself not to focus on just the immediate surface of the snow, but to look across at every opening; up at every stage of the canopy; to scan three hundred and sixty degrees around me; to look for anything that did not blend well, and everything that blended really well; to breathe deeply and utilize all my olfactory senses to truly smell; to use the wind; to feel with my skin; to keep my search image finely tuned; and to listen, and keep listening. In this way, one is not looking outward, but looking deep within, and becoming part of the life that surrounds us.”

-Brian Baxter, “Tales and Trails of the Boreal Forest.”

Above is the mantra of Brian Baxter, of Silver Cloud Associates, a tracking specialist from Libby who visited Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell last Saturday to give an introductory course of the science, and art, of identifying animal markings.

Being a novice at such things, but an avid outdoorsman with a keen interest in my surroundings, I attended, hoping to learn more. Others attending felt similarly.

“It’s a way to be better in touch with you’re surroundings when you’re out recreating,” Ryan Hunter said. “It’s interesting to know the rare wildlife is out there, even if you don’t see it.”

For anyone who spends any significant amount of time outside, animal tracking can be educational, as well as a safety issue. If you see grizzly prints in the mud or fresh scat, it could save you by recognizing what’s around you, and keeping you aware of the other wild animals sharing the outdoor habitat. At the same time, following animal tracks could help you see more wildlife while you’re out in the woods. It is also an important skill for any hunter to have.

Of course, the conditions are an important factor: fresh snow helps make distinct tracks, as does mud, sand or frozen ice. Wet, old snow and warm weather isn’t the most conducive, so this winter has not been the best for tracking, unless you are walking in a very remote area.

While the group of 12 attending last weekend’s course probably just wanted to walk around and look for tracks, the classroom part of tracking is extremely important and necessary to get a basic understanding. Baxter emphasized thinking like an animal, and understanding your surroundings and habitat.

“It’s like a little story,” Baxter said. “Keep plugging in your data when looking at tracks. It’s not always what you want it to be.”

The data, aside from habitat indicators, is varied, and can overlap for different animals. How do you know if you’re looking at a coyote print or Paula the poodle? That’s where stride, straddle, trough and gait come into play. Different indicators like this help a tracker determine the family, and eventually the animal, of the track they observe.

The first way Baxter recommended determining domestic animal prints is whether they are “sloppy.” Domestic animals aren’t worried about getting food or predators, so they amble along with little concern, meaning their gait and stride is fairly consistent. Other animals have much more distinct walking patterns that show either concern for predators or an attempt at stealthily hunting. Knowing whether domestic animals have been through the area helps as well.

Many of the group’s questions pertained to distinguishing between whitetail and mule deer, elk and moose and black and grizzly bears. Baxter said that mule deer are usually bigger than their white-tailed counterparts, and used to have different habitats.

Elk have a fairly round front and back end of their hooves, and a gummy pad takes up about half of their foot.

Moose, on the other hand, have much pointier ends and smaller gummy pads, but Baxter said to also consider habitat when attempting to distinguish.

The best way to distinguish grizzly and black bear prints, Baxter said, is to take a straight edge to the footpad. If it overlaps a toe, it’s a black bear, but if not, it’s a grizzly.

The claws are also important indicators as grizzly claws are almost twice as long as brown bears.

After the classroom session, the group headed outside to explore some of Lone Pine’s 251 acres. Despite less than ideal conditions, the group collectively found signs of whitetail deer buck, doe and fawn and deer scat. We also found skunk tracks, coyote tracks and scat, snowshoe hare tracks, pine squirrel tracks, grouse scat, redtail hawk feathers and a decomposed raven. As you can tell, using your surroundings and following out tracks can uncover much more than just the eye can see.

Baxter emphasizes having fun and keeping your eyes peeled, and to always remember, “the true tracker is a scientist, and an artist.”