Tracking animals

[Capt. Jacknife]

Is there a book or some other resource on tracking animals? I realize most photographers set up blinds in areas where animals are likely to be seen. However, I oftentimes will be in an area where tracks are found and I would like to know how to determine their freshness to see if I could find that animal.

A couple of months ago I was photographing Clear Creek in Colorado (it's the one that feeds into the Coors brewery in Golden) and I saw some mountain lion tracks. I didn't know how fresh they were though they didn't look like they were recent but I thought that, had I been there when the lion was there, I could've been in trouble.

[Dalantech]

Animal Tracking Guide

[meandmynikon]

I have a book from AFalconGuide the title is Scats and Tracks of the Southeast. It has every possible animal in the southeast from newts and toads to black bear and moutain lions. It has a chapter on how to measure track and estimate size of animal also. I purchased mine at Books a Million but Amazon probably has it also.

[Redsky]

Checking for tracks early morning or Evening every day. Most animals are going or coming from feeding areas at that time. Once you establish they are coming or going to an area. in the fall check for frost in the print. Winter a skiff of snow. or water if it rained. always continue to go back. test your own hand print. Make a print in the ground then check on it different times of the day. when the print is fresh it looks glossy if in mud or wet soil. your print will start to look dry over time. it takes time and patence. I have found bear, moose, deer, and wolf this way.