Wildlife tracking, that is finding animal tracks and understanding their movements while roaming in the forest, is a wonderful experience. It not only connects us with nature but also gives us an opportunity to know the unseen aspects of animal life. If you are also an avid tracker, then recognizing animal tracks and analyzing them correctly can make your experience even more exciting.
In this blog we’ll talk about the art of reading animal tracks, such as what signs are, how these tracks can be interpreted, and what type of tracking tools you should use.
Animal Traces: What and Why?
Whenever you are in the forest, you find many types of marks on the ground. These marks can actually be the footprints, feces, remains of bones, or scratch marks of that animal. These marks can tell us the position, direction, and even the mood of that animal.
Speaking from my own tracking experience, one day I saw a tiger’s footprint in the jungle. The experience of that day is still fresh in my memory. I was continuously tracking its footprint and after some time I realized that the tiger had slowed down its speed, perhaps it was waiting for prey.
Reasons for reading marks
- Learn about the animal’s movements: The markings help tell what the animal was doing.
- Identify the animal: The type of print, its shape, and its pattern help determine which animal the print belongs to.
- Safety: If you are able to recognize the tracks of a tiger, leopard or other dangerous animals, you can increase your safety.
Spotting the signs: the basics
Whenever you are in the forest, it is important to first understand what type of traces you are looking at. Are these footprints, or the remains of an animal’s feces? Are these scratch marks or some other sign?
Track Prints
These marks usually differ according to the size and type of the animal’s feet. For example, the tiger’s paws are large and wide, while the leopard’s paws are small and pointed. You can easily identify the animal by such footprints.
For me, reading footprints is always like unraveling a mystery. Once, when I saw the footprints of a deer, it did not take me long to understand that it was nervous and running fast, perhaps to escape a predator.
Traces of feces and urine
The feces and urine of animals are also an important indication of their behavior. For example, tigers or leopards often leave urine on big trees to mark their territory. At the same time, the feces of predatory animals are very hard and dry, while the feces of grass-eating animals are soft and wet.
Mark reading technique
If you want to become a true tracker in the wild, you need to do more than just recognize traces but also learn the art of reading them correctly.
1. Guess the direction
Understanding the direction in which an animal was going by looking at the tracks is an important skill. If the tracks are fresh and wet, it indicates that the animal did not go very far. On the other hand, old and dry tracks indicate that the animal has passed through there a long time ago.
2. Analysis of movement and behavior
The size and depth of the footprints can tell you the speed at which the animal was moving. For example, if a tiger’s footprints are deep and fast, it means that it was running very fast. On the other hand, light and shallow footprints indicate that the animal was moving slowly and leisurely.
3. Effect of weather and time
Weather also has an effect on footprints. After rain, footprints can be more clear, as the soil is wet and footprints are clearly visible. On the other hand, in summer, footprints can dry up quickly, making them a little difficult to identify.
Tracking tools: to help you
If you’re taking tracking more seriously, there may also be some tools that can make your experience even better:
- Simple Camera : If you want to take photos of a particular landmark, a simple camera may be of use to you.
- Binoculars : These are very useful for spotting signs or animals from a distance.
- Map and Compass : These can help you to navigate in the right direction.
Things to keep in mind while tracking
- Safety First : Always ensure that you are not trekking alone. It is important to have a companion and share your travel details.
- Follow the natural laws : Reading animal tracks in the wild does not mean that you disturb the peaceful life of the animals. Every animal has its own ideal way, and you can study it without disturbing it.
- Common sense : It is very important to understand which animals can be dangerous to you. Never get too close to an animal and try to provoke it.
Conclusion: Wildlife tracking, if done right, can not only be a thrilling experience but also deepen our understanding of our forests and their creatures. Reading trails is not just an art but a part of our deep connection with nature. If you are an avid trekker, then by adopting these tips and techniques, you too can understand the unseen aspects of animals in the forest and identify them correctly.
So the next time you head into the woods, look for those footprints and get lost in another exciting story.
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