Lars-Henrik Olsen - Tracks and Signs of the Animals and Birds of Britain and Europe

Lars-Henrik Olsen

Tracks and Signs
of the Animals
and Birds of
Britain and
Europe

translated by Mark Epstein

Copyright 2013 by Princeton University Press

Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540

In the United Kingdom: Princeton University Press, 6 Oxford Street, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1TW
press.princeton.edu

Originally published in Danish as Dyr & spor in 2012 by Gyldendal A/S, Denmark

All Rights Reserved

ISBN (pbk.) 978-0-691-15753-5

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013931523

British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available

Contents

A crevice used by a woodpecker to lodge a pine cone. NO.

Preface

Most birds are active during the day, and we can easily observe their activities. Mammals are shyer; many of them can be seen only at dusk or at night. They do not wish to reveal their whereabouts except to fellow members of their species, but all animals leave tracksa footprint, a lost feather, tooth marks on a tree, a hole in the ground, a special odor, and so forth. If you learn what to look for in animal tracks and can identify them, the time you spend in the field can become even more rewarding.

This book is a window into the rich variety of bird and mammal tracks and signs. Seen in the wild, they reveal a lot about animal behaviour. When trying to identify tracks, it is obviously helpfulas well as enrichingto know something about the animals themselves. For this reason, the second half of the book contains descriptions of most species of European mammals, their habits and habitats, as well as some facts about size, appearance, and distribution.

Animal tracks sometimes tell a story. This picture shows the tracks of several animals. A Willow Ptarmigan was surprised by a Golden Eagle , and the eagle was lucky; it managed to push the ptarmigan into the snow, drive its claws into its victim, and fly away with its prey. A Mountain Hare and a Norway Lemming went by, either shortly beforehand or shortly thereafterperhaps they were witnesses to the scene. AK.

Mammal tracks

Most wild animals are very shy. Many mammals are nocturnal and rarely seen, but you can find their footprints. To determine the identity of the animal that left these tracks, size and shape are of course important, but also understanding the series of tracks in its entirety, the type of movement, length of stride, and the splay of the feet, as well as the distance between the prints of the hind and forelegs. All of these will provide additional information about the kind of animal we are dealing with.

If you know something about the animals distribution and behaviour, the place and the surroundings where the tracks were found will also provide a lot of information. If you follow one set of tracks you will often also find other signs: food remains, signs of chewing or digging, carrion, nests and other structures, droppings, and so forththere is a lot to see.

An example of three characteristic tracks.

Forefoot of a horse (one-toed hoof)

Tracks reveal the type of movement of an animal: walk, trot, gallop, or jump. The form and sequence of the tracks can be of great help in the identification process. For most of the species in this book, the type of movement is described along with the relevant footprint.

The print pattern is based on the entire impression of the bottom of the foot. For mammals, we distinguish three major groups of prints: hooves of one toe, hooves of two toes, and paws with claws or nails.

Forefoot of a deer (two-toed hoof)

Forefoot of a cat (paw)

Actual size

Domestic dog

Raccoon Dog
See p.
Front foot L: 45.5 cm, W: 4.5 cm
Hind foot L: 44.5 cm, W: 3.5 cm

Raccoon Dog tracks

Wolf

L = Length W = Width

Dog/Wolf tracks

Domestic dog/Wolf
See p.
Wolf
Front foot L: 911 cm, W: 810 cm
Hind foot L: 8 cm, W: 7 cm
Dog: varying sizes

Approx. two-thirds actual size

Track sequence, Beaver

Hind foot

Forefoot

European Beaver
See p.
Forefoot L: 56 cm, W: 4.5 cm
Hind foot L: 1518 cm, W: 10 cm

Track sequence, Coypu

Forefoot

Hind foot