{"id":593262,"date":"2022-07-28T12:45:25","date_gmt":"2022-07-28T16:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/?p=593262"},"modified":"2022-11-10T16:13:47","modified_gmt":"2022-11-10T21:13:47","slug":"tracking-and-traces-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/my-missions\/tracking-and-traces-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Tracking and Traces 101"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some\nanimals are experts at hiding. It\u2019s one of the ways they stay safe from\npredators (and us). But, if you look closely, you can usually see a clue or two\nthat will tell you if an animal has been nearby. Use these tips the next time\nyou\u2019re on an outdoor adventure: <\/p>\n\n\n

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Look down! <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An easy\nway to find out who was hanging around is to look at the ground. You know how\nyou leave footprints when you\u2019re walking through mud or snow? Animals do too!<\/p>\n\n\n

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If you\nspot footprints or tracks (lots of footprints) in mud and want to get a better\nview, stand between the tracks and the sun! It will cast a shadow on the tracks\nand make them stand out. If you\u2019re lucky, you\u2019ll find a clear footprint and you\ncan look online to find out what type of animal made it. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Lots of\nbroken twigs and damaged plants off the beaten path might mean that a big\nanimal passed by! Little trails in wooded areas that aren’t too close to our\nbigger human-made ones can show you the routes our woodland friends like to\ntake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look up! <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another\nway to gather clues is by looking up! Plenty of creatures like to hang out\nright over our heads. Do you see any nests nearby?  Do you hear anyone rustling in the leaves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some\nanimals like to snack on tree bark, like mice, squirrels, and porcupines. That\nmight be hard to spot as you walk by, but you might get lucky and see a tree\nthat looks like Swiss cheese\u2014a sure sign of a snacky woodpecker! <\/p>\n\n\n

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Even if\nthere are no trees nearby, you might be surprised to find little homes in\nunexpected places! Some birds and bees like to settle down on or under\nbalconies, bridges, and lampposts. Sometimes you might even find them in little\nnooks on tall buildings!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo Credit: Flickr user, TexasEagle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n



When you’re out exploring, snap a couple of pictures while you’re at it!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Some animals are experts at hiding. It\u2019s one of the ways they stay safe from predators (and us). But, if you look closely, you can usually see a clue or two that will tell you if an animal has been nearby. Use these tips the next time you\u2019re on an outdoor adventure: Look down! An […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":51789,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1327,586,931],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-593262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-backyard-biologist-mission","category-my-missions","category-all"],"pp_force_visibility":null,"pp_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_force_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_subpost_visibility":null,"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t