Footprints in the winter forest. How to recognize an animal by its tracks in the snow

This information will primarily be of interest to novice hunters. If you can offer better and more informative pictures, and also add a photo winter tracks animals that are not in this article, publish them in the appropriate section of the photo gallery (indicating the name of the animal) and leave a link here. Detailed comments are welcome

Animal tracks in the snow, photos with names

Below you will find several photographs of animal tracks in the snow, which were added by site users to the Pathfinder section of the gallery, and schematic images of tracks of a hare, wolf, fox, bear, wild boar and other animals.

Moose trail

It is difficult for an experienced hunter to confuse the tracks of an elk with the tracks of other animals. Of course, they are very similar to the hoof prints of a large cattle and some wild elk relatives, but they are significantly larger in size. The hooves of a male elk, even if of average build, are always larger than the hooves of the largest domestic bull. In general, the elk walks heavily, in loose snow sinks deep to the ground. The stride length is usually about 80 cm. When trotting, the stride is wider - up to 150 cm, and when galloping, jumps can reach 3 meters. The width of the print, excluding the lateral toes, is about 10 cm for moose cows and 14 cm for bulls, and the length is 14 cm and 17 cm for females and males, respectively.

Photo of moose tracks in the snow added by user z.a.v.77. in 2017.

More photos of elk tracks:

hare trail

Hares leave two long tracks hind legs in front and two shorter forepaw prints behind it. In the snow, the length of the footprint of the front paws is about 8 cm with a width of 5 cm, and the length of the hind paws is up to 17 cm, with a width of about 8 cm. Due to their specificity, the tracks of the oblique are not difficult to determine, as is the direction of its movement. Hiding from pursuit, a hare can make jumps of up to 2 meters, and in a “calm environment” the length of the jump is about 1.2 - 1.7 meters.

A photo of hare tracks in the snow was added by Laichatnik in 2015.

More photos of hare tracks:

Fox trail

Fox tracks allow an experienced hunter to determine the nature of its movement. A fox paw print is typically about 6.5 cm long and 5 cm wide. The step length is from 30 to 40 cm. However, during a hunt or when escaping pursuit, the fox makes fairly long (up to 3 m) jumps and throws forward, to the right or left - at right angles to the direction of movement.

Photo of fox tracks in the snow added by user kubazoud in 2016.

More photos of fox tracks:

Bear tracks

Footprints brown bear It is quite easy to recognize among the tracks of other animals. This heavyweight (on average his weight is about 350 kg) cannot pass through snow and mud unnoticed. The prints of the animal's front paws are about 25 cm long, up to 17 cm wide, and the hind paws are about 25-30 cm long and about 15 cm wide. The claws on the front paws are almost twice as long as those on the hind paws.

Photo of bear tracks in the snow added by user willi in 2016.

More photos of bear tracks:

Wolf tracks

The tracks of wolves are very similar to the paw prints of large dogs. However, there are also differences. The front toes of a wolf are more forward and are separated from the hind toes by the width of a match, while in dogs, the toes are gathered together and such a gap is no longer observed. Experienced hunters from the trail they can discern what gait the animal was moving in: walking, trotting, galloping or galloping.

Photo of wolf tracks in the snow added by user Sibiriak in 2014.

More photos of wolf tracks:

Wolverine tracks

It is difficult to confuse wolverine tracks with anyone else's. The front and hind feet have five toes. The length of the front paw print is about 10 cm, the width is 7-9 cm. The hind paw is slightly smaller. The snow is often imprinted with a horseshoe-shaped metacarpal callus and a carpal callus located directly behind it. The first shortest toe of the front and hind paws may not be imprinted on the snow.

Photo of wolverine tracks in the snow added by user Tundravik in 2014.

Boar tracks

It is not difficult to distinguish the footprint of an adult wild boar from the traces of other ungulates, because in addition to the imprint of the hoof itself, a trace of stepson fingers located on the side remains on the snow or ground. It is interesting that in young piglets in the first months of life these fingers are not supporting, and therefore do not leave a mark.

Photo of wild boar tracks in the snow added by user Hanter57 in 2014.

More photos:

Roe deer trail

Based on the footprint of a roe deer, one can judge the speed of its movement. During running and jumping, the hooves move apart and, along with the front toes, the lateral toes serve as support. When the animal moves at a pace, the print looks different.

Photo of roe deer tracks in the snow added by user Albertovich in 2016.

More photos of roe deer tracks:

Practical classification of footprints of animals and birds

In the practice of tracking, in most cases, the determination of whether a trace belongs to one or another animal is made at first sight, by impression. If necessary, then further more or less detailed study is carried out. The ability to identify a footprint is quickly acquired, of course, with experience, but it can be accelerated if you divide the footprints of animals into groups according to their common features, the most noticeable, conspicuous.

Signs may relate to a burrow, a trail, paw prints, their size, shape - it doesn’t matter if they are noticeable and characteristic. The same type of traces may include traces of animals belonging to different systematic groups that are not closely related by phylogenetic relationship, but have similar footprints. That's why we call this classification of traces practical, designed to facilitate the practice of tracking. In all other cases, when considering animals, we adhere to the vertebrate animal system adopted in the main manuals in the Soviet Union (Sokolov, 1973, 1977, 1979; Kartashov, 1974; Bannikov et al., 1971).

Utility practical classification traces and the timeliness of its introduction are evident from the fact that some zoologists use the expressions “types of traces”, “traces different types"(Dulcate, 1974), without, however, giving them the meaning of classification units.

For tracks whose characteristics are not given here, the tracker himself can draw up a description, make drawings and, through observations, determine which animal they belong to.

Hedgehog type of tracks. This type of paw print is distinguished by its rather long, spread-out toes. The trail is wide and the steps are short. This type of trace is characteristic of small ones; animals - hedgehogs, water rats, hamsters, mole voles (Fig. 32, a - h).

Rice. 32. Hedgehog (a - h) and mole (i, j) types of tracks (cm)
a - trail track common hedgehog; b - paw prints of an ordinary hedgehog (2.8X2.8); c - track of an eared hedgehog (2.0X1.8); d - f - prints of the front and hind paws of a water rat (1.7X2.4 - 1.9X2.4); g - mole mole track on the sand (1.4X1.4 - 1.6X1.5); h - trail of a gray hamster; and - the trail of a European mole on loose snow; j - trail of a Mohera mole on dense snow (a, e, f, g, h, i, according to Formozov 1952; b - according to M. A. M. Vosatka; j - according to Marikovsky; c, d - orig)

Mole type of tracks. It is very difficult to see the footprints of moles on the surface of the soil or on the snow cover: moles rarely leave their holes, and if this happens, the substrate is not always soft enough for the tracks to be imprinted. In winter, you can still find mole tracks in the snow. The track of these animals in the snow is a groove in which the prints of their hind paws are visible, located at a close distance from each other.

The front, digging paws leave only weak imprints: they take little part in moving along the surface. The length of the step barely exceeds the width of the trail (Fig. 32, i, j).

Type of tracks of shrews and mice. These are the traces of the most small mammals. The larger hind paws of shrews, mice and voles leave paired prints, behind which, at a slight distance, are smaller prints of the front paws. On loose snow, their tail leaves a more or less long groove. In addition to galloping, animals can trot, and paw prints on the trail are not located in pairs, but sequentially (Fig. 33, 34).

Rice. 33. Type of traces of small mammals
Tracks: a - c - shrews of the small shrew; b - on short jumps, c - on long jumps; d, e - shrubs with the first powder; e - a large specimen of the bank vole; g - half-adult wood mouse (according to Formozov, 1952)

Rice. 34. Type of traces of mouse-like rodents and shrews
Paw prints and tracks: a, b - field mouse;
c - a small specimen of a gray vole on loose snow; d - a larger specimen of the gray vole (its trail is similar to the two-beaded pattern of a small weasel); d, c - shrews of the common shrew on fine snow; w - pinto shrew - on the sand (according to Formozov, 1952)

Dog type of tracks. This type includes traces of fast running animals. The front paws are five-toed, but the first toe is located high and does not leave a mark. The hind legs are four-toed.

Claws, finger crumbs (one per finger), metacarpal and metatarsal crumbs are imprinted on the ground. The tracks are varied, but one of them is very characteristic: the paw prints are covered and located in one line. The canine type of tracks is left by animals from the canine family, and also, apparently, by the cheetah (Fig. 35).

Rice. 35. Dog type of tracks
Paw prints and tracks (cm): a, b - dogs; c, d - wolf (9.6X7.5);
d, f, g, i - foxes (6.2x5.0); h - the right front paw of the karaganka -
small steppe fox(5.6X4.6); k, l - foxes on loose snow (6.6X5.3);
m - gallop of a fox in deep snow; n - hind leg of the desert Turkmen
foxes on damp sand (6.5X3.5); o - small Turkmen corsac on the sand (4.5X2.7); p, r- raccoon dog (4.4X3.6) (a, c, m, p- orig.; b, d, f, g, i - from the “Appendix”; h, j, l, o - according to Formozov , 1952; n - according to Marikovsky, 1972)

Bear type of tracks. Traces of this type are left by very large or medium-sized animals, plantigrade, with bare soles and long claws(rarely the soles of the feet are covered with hair). Hind paw print area more area front traces. The tracks are most often covered. This type includes traces of all types of bears, badgers, honey badgers, porcupines, etc. (Fig. 36).

Rice. 36. Bear-type tracks (cm)
a, b - prints of the front and rear right paws of a brown bear (15.0X15.0 - 27.0X14.0); c - g - trail of a brown bear; h,i - front and hind paws of the Himalayan bear; j - slightly overlapped badger tracks on muddy ground; l - imprint of the front paw of a badger (6.0X6.0); m - imprint of a badger's hind paw (8.0X4.3); j, o - prints of the front and hind paws of a porcupine (8.5X6.0 - 8.5X4.8) (a, b, c, l, m - original. Primorsky Krai; k - original, Yaroslavl region, r - from the “Appendix”; d - according to Marikovsky, 1972; e - according to Formozov, 1952; g - according to Rukovsky, 1984; h, i - according to Bromley, 1965)

Kuni type of tracks. This type includes traces of representatives of the mustelid family, which have elongated body and short legs. The main gait is a gallop, which corresponds to a two-bead pattern characteristic of mustelids, alternating with a three- and four-bead pattern. The track is most often found in the snow in winter, and rarely in summer (on the ground) (Fig. 37 - 41, 42, a).

Rice. 37. Kuni type of tracks (cm)
a, b - prints of the weasel's front and hind paws (1.5X1.0 - 1.5X1.2);
c - prints of the front and rear right paws of an ermine (2.5 X 1.7-2.5 X 2.0);
d - prints of the hind paws of an ermine on soft snow; d, f - weasel tracks; g, h - prints of the right front and hind paws of a pine marten (4.3X3.6-4.3X3.7); j, l - prints of the left front and hind paws stone marten(3.7X3.3-4.4X3.5); and - prints of four paws of a pine marten on deep loose snow; m, n, o - the trail of a pine marten at different gaits (from the “Appendix”)

Rice. 38. A badger’s footprint in the still deep spring snow
Primorsky Krai (orig.)

Rice. 39. Mustel-type tracks and mustelid paws (cm)
a, b - the front paw of a pine marten and its imprint on wet compacted snow (4.3X3.6); c, d - the front paw of a stone marten and its imprint on wet compacted snow (3.7X3.3); d - imprint of the front paw of the harza (4-7X5-8); f, g - traces of the harza, overtaking the musk deer by jumping on the snow compacted by the wind; h - stone marten trail; and - Kharza trail; k - four-bead and three-bead sable; l - hind leg of a sable;
m - two-bead sable; n - sable trail on deep loose snow - the prints of four paws merge into one large depression (l, m, n - orig., Primorsky Territory; a-g - according to Ryabov, 1976; d, f, g, i - according to Matyushkin , 1974; h - according to Gambaryan, 1972; j - according to Gusev, 1975)

Rice. 40. Mustel type of tracks and paws of animals from the mustelidae family (cm)
a, b - front and rear right paws of the column; c - front left paw American mink; d - paw prints of a large forest polecat on the mud (3.1X3.4-4.4X3.0); d - paw prints of a forest polecat; e-trace column (2.5X2.5-2.6X2.4); g - track column on silty wet soil; h - track column in deep snow; and - paw print of a European mink (3.2X2.7); k - two-bead mink on loose snow; l, m - imprint of the front and rear left paws of a forest polecat (3.2X2.8-3.0X2.4); n - trail (four-bead) of a forest polecat in the snow (a, b, c - original, Primorsky Territory; d, i, j - according to Formozov; d, l, m, n - from the “Appendix”; f, g, h - according to Marikovsky, 1970)

Rice. 41. The trail of the Kharzas, who took away and hid pieces of meat from a young sika deer they killed
Primorsky Krai (orig.)

Rice. 42. Kuniya and otter types of tracks
a - trace track of a small dressing on jumps (2.4X2.0-2.7X2.0 cm);
b- otter paw prints on river ice powdered with snow;
c - otter trail on wet sand
(b-orig.; a, c - according to Formozov 1952)

Wolverine type of tracks. The wolverine track consists of prints of the front and hind paws with big claws. Sometimes the first finger is not imprinted. The length of the paw mark is 15 cm, the width is 11.5 cm. The track is straight, “purposeful” (Fig. 43, a).

Rice. 43. Wolverine (a), raccoon (b), squirrel (d), horse (c), types of tracks
a - prints of the front (left) and hind paws of a wolverine (up to 15.0X11.5 cm);
b - prints of the front (left) (6.0x6.0 cm) and rear (9.0x5.0 cm) paws of the striped raccoon; c - kulan trace on fine-crushed desert soil (11.0X8.5 cm);
d - traces of two hind and one front paws of a thin-toed ground squirrel
(according to Formozov 1952)

Otter type of tracks. The otter's hind legs are five-toed, with the toes connected by membranes. The metatarsal crumb is long, but is completely imprinted only when walking slowly. The front paw prints are most often four-toed. The trail when walking looks like wavy line, when galloping - a four-legged pattern, consisting of four paw prints located along one line obliquely relative to the direction of movement of the animal. In loose, more or less deep snow, the otter's body leaves a furrow. The tail often draws a stripe in the snow and even on the ground. For now, we only classify as this type of tracks the tracks of one animal - the otter (see Fig. 42, b, c).

Raccoon type of tracks. Raccoon paws and their prints on the ground are distinguished by deeply divided toes. These are the limbs of a plantigrade animal with well-developed claws. The tracks are similar to those of a muskrat, but larger. The raccoon's front paws are five-toed (the muskrat's front paw print is usually four-toed, since the first toe does not reach the ground); on the raccoon's trail there is no tail strip, which is characteristic of the muskrat's trail (see Fig. 43, b).

Cat type of tracks. Such traces are left by predatory animals of the cat family, specializing in the “swift” form of running (canines - in the “endurance”). When chasing prey at a gallop, the tracks of their four legs come together. There are no claw marks, since they are known to be retractable (Fig. 44 - 47).

Rice. 44. Cat type of tracks
Paw prints (cm) and tracks: a, b- domestic cat on salt marsh silt (3.4X3.2); c - d - Caucasian forest cat (4.5X3.7): c - rear, d - front (3.9X4.6); d - front leopard (12X12); e - leopard track; g - left front European wild cat; e - wild cat in the snow; and - jungle cat, or hausa, on silt (5.0X6.0); k - trailing house track at slow speed; l- snow leopard trail at a walk and while jumping; m - lynxes on a snowdrift in spring (the hair on the soles has almost completely faded - 7.0X6.0); i - snow leopard (7.8X7.5)(a, b, c, d, i, m - according to Formozov, 1952; g, h - from the “Appendix”; j, l, n - according to Heptner, Sludsky, 1972; d - orig., Primorsky Krai)

Rice. 45. Leopard tracks in deep snow
South-west of Primorsky Krai (orig.)

Rice. 46. Cat type of tracks
Paw prints (cm) and tracks: a - front and hind paws of a tiger (16.0X14.0); b - outlines of the fingers and metacarpals of a male (left) and female tiger of the same age - 7 years (shown on the same scale); c - diagram of the digital metacarpal and metatarsal crumbs of a leopard; d-d - tiger trail: d - on shallow snow, d - on deeper snow cover (the hind paws are placed in the prints of the front ones - covered trail); e - trail track when moving at a trot (stride and drag lengthen); g - jumps of an attacking tiger (a - original, Primorsky Territory; c - according to Dulkeit, 1974)

Rice. 47. Tiger tracks on the powdery ice of the river
The legs slid and therefore the tiger spread his fingers and sometimes extended his claws
(orig., Primorsky Krai)

Horse type of tracks. This type of footprint is easily recognized by the imprint of one toe (hoof) on one foot. It includes footprints of a horse, donkey, kulan and other representatives of the horse family (see Fig. 43, c).

Deer type of tracks. On the trail there are hoof prints of the third and fourth toes. On soft ground, as well as after fast running, marks of the second and fifth toes often remain. The deer type of tracks includes tracks artiodactyl mammals(Fig. 48, b-k; 49, 50).

Rice. 48. Camel and deer types of tracks
Traces (cm) a, e - camel; b - red deer 8.7X6.0); c, w - European red deer(9.7X5.6); d - 6 year old male red deer running (9.3X7.0); d - sika deer (7.2X5.2); Tracks: h - red deer calf; and - female red deer; k - four-beaded red deer (a, b, d, e - original; a, f - Karakum; b, e - Primorsky Territory; c, d, g, h, i, j - from the “Appendix”)

Rice. 49. Deer type of tracks
Hoof prints (cm) tracks: a - male fallow deer at a gallop (without stepsons - 8.0X4.6); b - female fallow deer (5.4X4.0); c - male roe deer (4.8X2.7); d - roe deer galloping on soft ground; d, f, g - male (10-15Х8-14) female and calf elk; n, o, p - their trails; h - trail of a male fallow deer; and - the trail of a deer at a gallop; k - trail of a female fallow deer; l - trail of a female roe deer; m - four-bead roe deer at a gallop (a, b, c, d, h, i, k, l, m, n, i, p - from the “Appendix”; d, f, g - original, Yaroslavl region)

Rice. 50. Ungulate tracks
Hoof prints (cm): a, h - reindeer(length with stepsons 15);
b - musk deer fingers in the normal and extended position; and - musk deer hooves in the snow; c - goats (6.6X4.3); g - sheep (6.0X3.7); d - the front leg of the chamois (7.2X4.3); e - hind leg of chamois (7.0X3.5); g - goral (front hooves - 4.0X6.0, rear - 3.0X3.5); m, n - chamois at a gallop; k - female saiga (6.0X X4.3); l - male saiga (6.6X X5.4); o, t - goitered gazelle (5.4X3.1); p - wild boar (length with stepsons - 12.5); R - wild pig(8 years); c - young wild pig (a, h, j, l, o, t - according to Formozov, 1952; b - according to Zaitsev, 1983; c, d, e, f, m, n, r, s - from the “Appendix” "; g - according to Bromley, 1965; i, p - orig., Primorsky Territory)

Camel type of tracks. The imprint of a camel's foot consists of a wide rounded sole, on the front edge of which there are two nails (see Fig. 48, a, f).

Hare type of tracks. The trail is shaped like the letter T: the prints of a pair of hind paws are located on a line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the animal, and the prints of the front paws are behind them along the axis of the trail. This type of tracks is typical for hares and pikas, for representatives of the gerbil subfamily of the hamster family (Fig. 51, a - f).

Rice. 51. Hare (a - f) and squirrel (f - n) types of tracks
Prints (cm): a - brown hare on the sand (back - 17.0X6.0, front - 6.0X3.8); b - white hare on deep snow (rear - 18.0X10.0: front (8.5X4.5); c - white hare on road dust; d - Manchurian hare in the snow; e, f - Daurian pika (3 ,0X1.3-2.1X1.7); g, h - midday gerbil (1.1X1.0-1.4X1.4); i - squirrels (2.7X2.6-5.6X X3.1); j, l - flying squirrels (1.7X X 1.3-2.0X1.4); m - great gerbil (2.0X1.2-3.5X2.8); n - hind paw of the Amur long-tailed ground squirrel (3 ,5X3,3) (Orig.: a, c - Karakum, b - Yaroslavl region; d - Primorsky Territory; d - n - according to Formozov, 1952)

Squirrel type of tracks. In rodents of the family of squirrels and gerbils, the quadruplet has a trapezoidal shape: the prints of the front paws, like the prints of the hind paws, are located along a line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the animal (Fig. 51, g - n; see Fig. 43, d).

Jerboa type of tracks. Jerboas have “bipedal” or “two-legged” running. The track can consist of paired tracks located along a line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the animal, or each leg alternates with the other leaving tracks on the right and left sides, respectively. The tracks of some jerboas are distinguished by the imprints of rows of bristles bordering the paws (Fig. 52).

Rice. 52. Jerboa type of tracks
Imprints (cm): a, b - large jerboa (earthen hare) (3.0ХI.7);
c - thick-tailed jerboa (0.9X0.7); d, h, m - comb-toed jerboa (3.5X2.1); d, k, n - hairy jerboa (2.7X2.0); g, e - earthen bunny (1.5X0.8); and - Severtsov’s jerboa; l - fat-tailed jerboa; o - Lichtenstein jerboa (a, b, c, d, f, g, m - according to Formozov, 1952; i, d, l, i, o - according to Fokin, 1978; h, j - original, Karakum)

Muskrat type of tracks. Such traces are left by semi-aquatic animals. The toes of the hind paws are connected by an incomplete swimming membrane (muskrat) or edged with hard hairs (kutora) The footprints are long The track is wide, the steps are relatively short On soft ground, a trace from the tail may remain The muskrat type includes the tracks of the muskrat, nutria, kutora, and muskrat (Fig. 53)

Rice. 53. Muskrat type of tracks
a - muskrat trail (3.4X3.6-8.4X4.3 cm) Prints (cm): b - front paws of a muskrat, c - hind paws of a muskrat, d - front and hind paws of a beaver, e - rear right paw of a muskrat (5.6 X 1.8), e - front right paw of a muskrat (2.6 X 10), g - front paw of a nutria, h - hind paw of a nutria
(a - according to Formozov, 1952, d, g, h - according to Kalbe, 1983, d, e-orig, Yaroslavl region)

BIRDS

Pelican type tracks. Paw prints - four fingers connected by a swimming membrane - are facing towards the center line of the track. This type includes traces of birds of the order copepods (in our country - pelicans and cormorants, see Fig. 15, e)

Heron type of tracks. On the paw prints, three long, thin toes are facing forward, and one (the first), approximately the same thin and long, is facing back. In addition to herons, the same type of tracks are found by some representatives of the order of waders, birds of the Jacan family (not found in the USSR), some species from the order of rails (see Fig. 59, n)

Stork type of tracks. Such tracks are usually left by large birds with long legs The fingers are relatively thick, the second and fourth are widely spaced, the first is small, imprinted separately from the rest in the form of a round or oblong hole (Fig. 54)

Rice. 54. Stork type of tracks
Prints (cm): a, b, c - gray crane (12.0X15.0); d - demoiselle crane at a watering place (8.5X10.5); d, f - white stork (13.5X19.8); g, h - black stork (14.0X14.0) (a, e, f - from the “Appendix”; b - according to a photograph by V. Zaitsev; c, d, g - according to Formozov 1952; h - according to Marikovsky 1970)

Duck type of tracks. The track consists of paw prints, the three front toes of which are connected by a swimming membrane. This type includes the tracks of anseriformes, gulls, loons, tubenoses, guillemots, and some waders (Fig. 55)

Kite type of tracks. This type belongs to representatives of the order of diurnal birds of prey. The legs of some of them are adapted for capturing and killing prey, while the legs of others, namely scavengers (feed on carrion), are adapted only for walking. The former have strong fingers and sharp curved claws, while the latter have blunt and slightly curved claws. On the paw prints, the traces of the outer front toes, slightly shorter than the middle one, are located approximately at right angles to one another. The crumbs of the fingers leave deep imprints, the claws are torn from the ends of the fingers, often in the form of injections in the ground. (Figure 56, a, b, c, f)

Chicken track type. The prints of the lateral front fingers are located one relative to the other at approximately right angles. The trail of the hind toe is small and turned towards the axis of the trail. In grouse birds winter period the outlines of the tracks are unclear due to the feathers covering the paws and the “fringes” - horny scales that turn off the toes. The stride of grouse birds is short. U chicken birds In open spaces, the fingerprints are thinner and longer than those of grouse, and the steps are also longer. (Fig. 57, see 61, b, c)

Rice. 57. Chicken track type
Prints (cm): a, e, f - capercaillie (11.0X11.7); b, c - black grouse (6.0X7.5);
g, l - pheasant (8.5X7.8); g, h - hazel grouse (5.4X4.5); and, j - gray partridge (5.0X5.0);
m, k - white partridge (6.0X5.5); o, p - quail (3.5X3.2)(a, b, c, d, f, g, i, j, m, n, o, p - from the “Appendix”; d, h, l - orig. , Primorsky Krai)

Bustard type of tracks. In bustard birds - inhabitants of dry plains - the tracks are distinguished by the imprints of short and thick fingers, long steps. In addition to the tracks of bustard birds, the bustard type should also include the tracks of birds of the order of hazel grouse, although their legs are not long (Fig. 58, a - i)

Rice. 58. Paw prints and tracks of birds with bustard-type tracks
Prints (cm): a - bustards (7.3X7.5); b - bustards on a dusty road; c - houbara bustards (5.7X4.8); g - little bustard (4.3X4.7); d - saji, or hooves (2.2X1.5); e - black-bellied sandgrouse; g, h - auto dots (4.3X2.8); and - white-bellied sandgrouse (3.1X2.9); k - coots (coot type of tracks) (10.0X10.5); l - wood pigeon (pigeon type of tracks) (a - from the “Appendix”; b, c, d, e, f, g, i, j - according to Formozov, 1952; l - according to Marikovsky, 1970; h - original, Astrakhan reserve)

Easter cake type of tracks. Many waders are good runners. Their footprints are distinguished by widely spaced outermost front toes; the rear toe is poorly imprinted or not imprinted at all, since it is small and located higher than the rest. Some waders do not have a hind finger at all (Fig. 59, a - m).

Rice. 59. Kulichina and heron types of tracks
Prints (cm): a - lapwing (3.5X4.2); b - snipe; c - large curlew (7.0X8.0); g - large snail (4.0X5.0); d - woodcock (4.4X5.4); e - carrier sandpiper (3.0X3.0); g, h - black sandpiper (4.0X5.0); and - sparrow sandpiper (1.7X2.7); k, l - brown-winged plover (4.0X4.0); m - magpie sandpiper (4.0X5.0); n - gray heron (17.5X 12.5) (a - g, i, m - according to Formozov, 1952; k, l, k - orig, Primorsky Territory; h - according to Marikovsky, 1970)

Pigeon type of tracks. All four toes of the pigeon are well imprinted, the toes are quite long and thin, the trail is narrow, the paw print as a whole is slightly turned towards the axis of the trail (see Fig. 58, l).

Coot type of tracks. The toes are edged with a leathery, scalloped swimming membrane (see Fig. 58, j).

Owl type of tracks. Traces of owls are occasionally found in the snow when they hunt rodents, and less often on the ground. The outer front fingerprint is facing the back fingerprint. The crumbs give deep marks, the claws are imprinted when separated from the ends of the fingers (see Fig. 56, e - i).

Woodpecker type of tracks. The following feature is visible on the paw prints of woodpeckers: two fingers are turned forward and two back. Claws leave dotted marks.

Crow type of tracks. The passerine order, which includes the corvid family, is numerous in terms of species and diverse in the ecology of its representatives. Basically, the paws of these birds are adapted to grasping branches: the three front toes are close together, and the hind toe is well developed and opposes the rest. The claws are highly developed. The trail path corresponds to movement by paired ricochets (jumps), as well as walking and running. In some terrestrial passerines, the claw of the hind finger is long and leaves a long trail (Fig. 60, 61, a).

Rice. 60. Crow type of tracks
Prints (cm): a - crow (11.0X4.0); b - jays (5.8X1.7); c - field thrush (5.0X2.5); g - white wagtail; d - crows (8.8X4.2); e - magpies - in the snow; w - saxaul jay - on desert sand (4.6X1.8); h - magpies (6.0X2.8); and snow buntings (3.5X1.8); k - white wagtail; l - dancing heaters; m - house sparrow (3.5 X 1.6) (a, b, c, d, f, g, h, i, m - according to Formozov, 1952; d, j, l - according to Marikovsky, 1970)

Rice. 61. Crow (a) and chicken (b, c) types of tracks
a - the trail of a desert raven on the sand of a dune; b - the mark of the peacock’s left paw; c - right paw print of a female Himalayan snowcock (8.8X8.2 cm)
(a, b - original, a - Karakum, b - India, c - according to Formozov 1952)

The usefulness of the practical classification of traces and the timeliness of its introduction are evident from the fact that some zoologists use the expressions “types of traces”, “traces of different types” (Dulkeit, 1974), without, however, giving them the meaning of classification units.

For tracks whose characteristics are not given here, the tracker himself can draw up a description, make drawings and, through observations, determine which animal they belong to.

Rice. 1. Hedgehog (a - h) and mole (i, j) types of tracks (cm)

a - the trail of an ordinary hedgehog; b - paw prints of an ordinary hedgehog (2.8X2.8);
c - track of an eared hedgehog (2.0X1.8); d - f - prints of front and hind paws
water rat (1.7X2.4 - 1.9X2.4); g - mole mole track on the sand
(1.4X1.4 - 1.6X1.5); h - trail of a gray hamster; and - the trace path of the European
mole on loose snow; k - Mogera mole trail on dense snow

Mole type of tracks. It is very difficult to see the footprints of moles on the surface of the soil or on the snow cover: moles rarely leave their holes, and if this happens, the substrate is not always soft enough for the tracks to be imprinted. In winter, you can still find mole tracks in the snow. The track of these animals in the snow is a groove in which the prints of their hind paws are visible, located at a close distance from each other. The front, digging paws leave only weak imprints: they take little part in moving along the surface. The length of the step barely exceeds the width of the trail (Fig. 1, i, j).

Type of tracks of shrews and mice. These are traces of the smallest mammals. The larger hind paws of shrews, mice and voles leave paired prints, behind which, at a slight distance, are smaller prints of the front paws. On loose snow, their tail leaves a more or less long groove. In addition to galloping, animals can trot, and paw prints on the trail are not located in pairs, but sequentially (Fig. 2, 3).

Rice. 2. Type of small mammal tracks

Tracks: a - c - shrews of the small shrew; b - on short jumps,
c - on long ones; d, e - shrubs with the first powder; e - a large specimen of the bank vole;
f - half-adult wood mouse

Rice. 3. Type of traces of mouse-like rodents and shrews

Paw prints and tracks: a, b - field mouse;
c - a small specimen of a gray vole on loose snow; g - larger specimen
gray vole (its trail is similar to the two-beaded pattern of a small weasel);
d, c - shrews of the common shrew on fine snow; f - piebald
shrew shrews - on the sand

Dog type of tracks. This type includes traces of fast running animals. The front paws are five-toed, but the first toe is located high and does not leave a mark. The hind legs are four-toed.

Rice. 4. Dog type of tracks

Paw prints and tracks (cm): a, b - dogs; c, d - wolf (9.6X7.5);
d, f, g, i - foxes (6.2x5.0); h - the right front paw of the karaganka -
small steppe fox (5.6X4.6); k, l - foxes on loose snow (6.6X5.3);
m - gallop of a fox in deep snow; n - hind leg of the desert Turkmen
foxes on damp sand (6.5X3.5); o - small Turkmen corsac on the sand (4.5X2.7);
p, p- raccoon dog (4.4X3.6)

Bear type of tracks. Traces of this type are left by very large or medium-sized animals, plantigrade, with bare soles and long claws (rarely the soles of the feet are covered with hair). The area of the hind paw prints is larger than the area of the front paw prints. The tracks are most often covered. This type includes traces of all types of bears, badgers, honey badgers, porcupines, etc. (Fig. 5).

Rice. 5. Bear type tracks (cm)

a, b - prints of the front and rear right paws of a brown bear (15.0X15.0 - 27.0X14.0);
c - g - trail of a brown bear; h, i - front and hind paws of the Himalayan bear;
j - slightly overlapped badger tracks on muddy ground; l - imprint of the front paw of a badger (6.0X6.0); m - imprint of a badger's hind paw (8.0X4.3); k, o - prints of the front and hind paws of a porcupine (8.5X6.0 - 8.5X4.8)

Kuni type of tracks. This type includes traces of representatives of the mustelid family, which have an elongated body and short legs. The main gait is a gallop, which corresponds to a two-bead pattern characteristic of mustelids, alternating with a three- and four-bead pattern. The track is most often found in the snow in winter, and rarely in summer (on the ground) (Fig. 6 - 10, 11, a).

Rice. 6. Kuni type of tracks (cm)

a, b - prints of the weasel's front and hind paws (1.5X1.0 - 1.5X1.2);
c - prints of the front and rear right paws of an ermine (2.5 X 1.7-2.5 X 2.0);
d - prints of the hind paws of an ermine on soft snow; d, f - weasel tracks;
g, h - prints of the right front and hind paws of a pine marten (4.3X3.6-4.3X3.7);
j, l - prints of the left front and hind paws of a stone marten (3.7X3.3-4.4X3.5);
and - prints of four paws of a pine marten on deep loose snow;
m, n, o - pine marten trail at different gaits

Rice. 7. A badger’s footprint in the still deep spring snow
Primorsky Krai (orig.)

Rice. 8. Mustel-type tracks and mustelid paws (cm)

a, b - the front paw of a pine marten and its imprint on wet compacted snow (4.3X3.6);
c, d - the front paw of a stone marten and its imprint on wet compacted snow (3.7X3.3);
d - imprint of the front paw of the harza (4-7X5-8); f, g - traces of the harza, overtaking the musk deer by jumping on the snow compacted by the wind; h - stone marten trail;
and - Kharza trail; k - four-bead and three-bead sable; l - hind leg of a sable;
m - two-bead sable; n - sable trail in deep loose snow - four paw prints merge into one large depression

Rice. 9. Mustel type of tracks and paws of animals from the mustelidae family (cm)

a, b - front and rear right paws of the column; c - front left paw of an American mink;
d - paw prints of a large forest polecat on the mud (3.1X3.4-4.4X3.0); d - paw prints of a forest polecat; e-trace column (2.5X2.5-2.6X2.4); g - track column on silty wet soil; h - track column in deep snow; and - paw print of a European mink (3.2X2.7); k - two-bead mink on loose snow; l, m - imprint of the front and rear left paws of a forest polecat (3.2X2.8-3.0X2.4); n - trail track (four-bead) of a forest polecat in the snow

Rice. 10. The trail of the kharzas, who were taken away and hidden
pieces of meat from a young sika deer they killed

Rice. 11. Kuniya and otter track types

a - trace track of a small dressing on jumps (2.4X2.0-2.7X2.0 cm);
b- otter paw prints on river ice powdered with snow;
c - otter trail on wet sand

Wolverine type of tracks. A wolverine's footprint consists of prints of front and hind paws with large claws. Sometimes the first finger is not imprinted. The length of the paw mark is 15 cm, the width is 11.5 cm. The track is straight, “purposeful” (Fig. 12, a).

Rice. 12. Wolverine (a), raccoon (b), squirrel (d), horse (c), types of tracks
a - prints of the front (left) and hind paws of a wolverine (up to 15.0X11.5 cm);
b - prints of the front (left) (6.0x6.0 cm) and rear (9.0x5.0 cm) paws of the striped raccoon;
c - kulan trace on fine-crushed desert soil (11.0X8.5 cm);
d - traces of two hind and one front paws of a thin-toed ground squirrel

Otter type of tracks. The otter's hind legs are five-toed, with the toes connected by membranes. The metatarsal crumb is long, but is completely imprinted only when walking slowly. The front paw prints are most often four-toed. When walking, the trail looks like a wavy line; when galloping, it looks like a four-legged pattern, consisting of four paw prints located along one line obliquely relative to the direction of movement of the animal. In loose, more or less deep snow, the otter's body leaves a furrow. The tail often draws a stripe on the snow and even on the ground. For now, we only classify as this type of tracks the tracks of one animal - the otter (see Fig. 11, b, c).

Raccoon type of tracks. Raccoon paws and their prints on the ground are distinguished by deeply divided toes. These are the limbs of a plantigrade animal with well-developed claws. The tracks are similar to those of a muskrat, but larger. The raccoon's front paws are five-toed (the muskrat's front paw print is usually four-toed, since the first toe does not reach the ground); on the raccoon's trail there is no strip from the tail, which is characteristic of the muskrat's trail (see Fig. 12, b).

Cat type of tracks. Such traces are left by predatory animals of the cat family, specializing in the “swift” form of running (canines - in the “endurance”). When chasing prey at a gallop, the tracks of their four legs come together. There are no claw marks, since they are known to be retractable (Fig. 13 - 16).

Rice. 13. Cat type of tracks

Paw prints (cm) and tracks: a, b - domestic cat on the mud of a salt marsh (3.4X3.2);
c - d - Caucasian forest cat (4.5X3.7): c - rear, d - front (3.9X4.6);
d - front leopard (12X12); e - leopard track; g - left front European wild cat; e - wild cat in the snow; and - jungle cat, or Hausa,
on sludge (5.0X6.0); k - trailing house track at slow speed; l- snow leopard trail
while walking and jumping; m - lynxes on a snowdrift in spring (the hair on the soles is almost
completely faded - 7.0X6.0); and - snow leopard (7.8X7.5)

Rice. 14. Leopard tracks in deep snow

Rice. 15. Cat type of tracks

Paw prints (cm) and tracks: a - front and hind paws of a tiger (16.0X14.0);
b - outlines of the digital and metacarpal crumbs of a male (left) and female tiger of the same age
- 7 years (shown on the same scale); c - diagram of the digital metacarpal and metatarsal
leopard crumbs; g-d - tiger trail: g - on fine snow,
d - on deeper snow cover (the hind paws are placed in the prints of the front paws
- covered trail); e - trail track when moving at a trot (stride and
dragging); w - jumping of the attacking tiger

Rice. 16. Tiger tracks on the powdery ice of the river
The legs slid and therefore the tiger spread his fingers and sometimes extended his claws

Horse type of tracks. This type of footprint is easily recognized by the imprint of one toe (hoof) on one foot. This includes footprints of a horse, donkey, kulan and other representatives of the horse family (see Fig. 12, c).

Deer type of tracks. On the trail there are hoof prints of the third and fourth toes. On soft ground, as well as after fast running, marks of the second and fifth toes often remain. The deer type of tracks includes those of artiodactyl mammals (Fig. 17, b-k; 18, 20).

Rice. 17. Camel and deer types of tracks

Traces (cm) a, e - camel; b - red deer 8.7X6.0); c, g - European red deer (9.7X5.6);
d - 6 year old male red deer running (9.3X7.0); d - sika deer (7.2X5.2);
Tracks: h - red deer calf; and - female red deer;
k - four rosary of a red deer

Rice. 18. Deer type of tracks

Hoof prints (cm) tracks: a - male fallow deer at a gallop (without stepsons - 8.0X4.6);
b - female fallow deer (5.4X4.0); c - male roe deer (4.8X2.7); d - roe deer galloping on soft ground;
d, f, g - male (10-15Х8-14) female and calf elk; n, o, p - their trails;
h - trail of a male fallow deer; and - the trail of a deer at a gallop;
k - trail of a female fallow deer; l - trail of a female roe deer;
m - four-bead roe deer at a gallop

Rice. 20. Ungulate tracks

Hoof prints (cm): a, h - reindeer (length with stepsons 15);
b - musk deer fingers in the normal and extended position; and - musk deer hooves in the snow;
c - goats (6.6X4.3); g - sheep (6.0X3.7); d - the front leg of the chamois (7.2X4.3);
e - hind leg of chamois (7.0X3.5); g - goral (front hooves - 4.0X6.0, rear - 3.0X3.5);
m, n - chamois at a gallop; k - female saiga (6.0X X4.3); l - male saiga (6.6X X5.4);
o, t - goitered gazelle (5.4X3.1); p - wild boar (length with stepsons - 12.5); r - wild pig (8 years);
c - young wild pig

Camel type of tracks. The imprint of a camel's foot consists of a wide rounded sole, on the front edge of which there are two nails (see Fig. 19 a, f).

Hare type of tracks. The trail is shaped like the letter T: the prints of a pair of hind paws are located on a line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the animal, and the prints of the front paws are behind them along the axis of the trail. This type of tracks is typical for hares and pikas, for representatives of the gerbil subfamily of the hamster family (Fig. 51, a - f).

Rice. 21. Hare (a - f) and squirrel (f - n) types of tracks
Prints (cm): a - brown hare on the sand (back - 17.0X6.0, front - 6.0X3.8);
b - white hare in deep snow (rear - 18.0X10.0: front (8.5X4.5);
c - tolai hare on road dust; g - Manchurian hare in the snow;
d, f - Daurian pika (3.0X1.3-2.1X1.7); g, h - midday gerbil (1.1X1.0-1.4X1.4);
and - proteins (2.7X2.6-5.6X X3.1); k, l - flying squirrels (1.7X X 1.3-2.0X1.4);
m - large gerbil (2.0X1.2-3.5X2.8); n - hind leg of the Amur long-tailed
gopher (3.5X3.3) (Orig.: a, c - Karakum, b - Yaroslavl region; d - Primorsky Territory;
d - n - according to Formozov, 1952)

Squirrel type of tracks. In rodents of the family of squirrels and gerbils, the quadruplet has a trapezoidal shape: the prints of the front paws, like the prints of the hind paws, are located along a line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the animal (Fig. 21, g - n; see Fig. 43, d).

Muskrat type of tracks. Such traces are left by semi-aquatic animals. The toes of the hind paws are connected by an incomplete swimming membrane (muskrat) or edged with hard hairs (kutora) The footprints are long The track is wide, the steps are relatively short On soft ground, a trace from the tail may remain The muskrat type includes the tracks of the muskrat, nutria, kutora, and muskrat (Fig. 22)

Rice. 22. Muskrat type of tracks

a - muskrat trail (3.4X3.6-8.4X4.3 cm)
Prints (cm): b - front paws of a muskrat, c - hind paws of a muskrat, d - front and hind paws of a beaver, d - rear right paw of a muskrat (5.6 X 1.8), f - front right paw of a muskrat
(2.6 X 10), w - front paw of nutria, h - hind paw of nutria
(a - according to Formozov, 1952, d, g, h - according to Kalbe, 1983, d, e-orig, Yaroslavl region)

/ Animal tracks. Field guide

This manual allows you to determine from photographs and drawings winter time traces of the most common animals on the peninsula. In addition, there are photographs of traces of birds of the grouse family - partridge and wood grouse. Intended for a wide range of nature lovers, employees of natural parks and reserves, schoolchildren, students

Download the determinant in PDF format

Kamchatka brown bear

Ursus arctos piscator Pucheran, 1855 (Kamchatka brown bear)

Easily recognizable marks. Depending on the speed of the animal's movement, the pattern of the chain of tracks can be “covered” (the hind paws are imprinted on top of the front ones) if the animal was moving slowly, or “covered” (the hind paws are imprinted in front of the front ones) when moving quickly.

In the photo there is a bear's footprint in the sand, on the right in deep snow.

East Siberian lynx

Lynx lynx wrangeli Ognev, 1928 (East Siberian lynx)

The mark of the front paw is rounded, up to 9–12 cm in length and width, the hind paw is slightly narrower. Unlike a fox or a wolf, the trail chain is located in a broken line. On dense snow, the hind paw is placed exactly in the footprint of the front paw. The length of the step at a quiet pace is 20–30 cm. There are no claw marks, because they are retractable. When galloping, the tracks of the four legs move closer together. The photo shows the back paw of a lynx.

polar Wolf

Canis lupus albus Kerr, 1792 (Polar wolf)

A wolf's track looks similar to a dog's. The main difference is that his two middle fingers are pushed forward so that the back edge of their prints is located at the level of the front edge of the prints of the outermost fingers. The tracks of the hind paws are smaller and narrower than the front paws. During a calm walk, the trail chain forms a straight line, with the hind paws exactly falling into the footprint of the front paws. This is also typical when a flock moves, so the number of animals can only be determined at turns or near some object that interests the flock. The photo shows prints of the front (above) and hind paws on dense snow.

Anadyr fox

Vulpes vulpes beringiana (Middendorf, 1875) (Anadyr red fox)

The footprint of a fox is similar to that of a small dog, but narrower and more graceful. Like the wolf, the prints of the middle fingers are strongly pushed forward. The trail chain with a calm step is straight, the prints of the hind paws are superimposed on the front ones (covered trail). The stride length is up to 30 cm. With a shallow trot, the print of the hind paw partially overlaps the front one; with a wider trot, the prints are located separately, but not far from each other. On page 6 - a photo of fox tracks in deep snow and sand while moving at a calm pace. On page 7 - a drawing of the track of the front (left) and hind paws.

Kamchatka sable

Martes zibellina camtschadalica (Birula, 1919) (Kamchatka sable)

Due to the strong hairiness of the sable's paws below, its traces are usually indistinct and blurred. Typically, a track on loose snow consists of a chain of paired tracks, the so-called two-beam (page 8, photo on the left). In shallow snow, the animal moves in a three- or four-step pattern (page 8, photo on the right). At running fast In the deep, loose snow, the tracks merge into a chain of elongated holes. The footprint is 7–10 cm long and 5–6 cm wide. Below is a photo of a sable track on dense snow (four-bead).

Kamchatka wolverine

Gulo gulo albus (Kerr, 1792) (Kamchatka wolverine)

The footprint is large and can be confused with that of a lynx or a young bear cub, from which it differs in the clear prints of five fingers and claws. Wolverine has a very big feet, which allows her to move through deep snow without falling through. The trail is usually straight. Like most mustelids, it prefers to move in a two-, three- or four-legged manner (p. 10). The footprint size is up to 18 cm in length and up to 13 cm in width.

Northern river otter

Lutra lutra lutra Linnaeus, 1758 (Northern river otter)

When an otter moves through the snow, it leaves a furrow characteristic of aquatic mustelids, on the bottom of which covered tracks are imprinted. Sometimes there is a stripe drawn by the heavy tail of the animal. The trail is zigzag. On ice and sand, the otter uses a four-bead pattern. The size of the front paw print is 4–5 cm in length and width, the back one is 4–8 cm in length and 4–6 cm (occasionally up to 13 cm) in width.

On page 12, on the left is a photo of an otter track in deep snow, on the right is a trail of two tracks.

Northern sea otter

Enhydra lutris lutris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Northern sea otter)

As a rule, sea otters spend most of their time in the water, and if they go ashore, they prefer rocky shores. However, there are times when in winter powerful ice they simply drive animals into rivers, and then their traces can be found not only on the surf strip, but also in nearby plantings. The track of a sea otter is very similar to the track of an otter (same furrow, double-bead), but differs much more large sizes. The trail of tracks is zigzag. A characteristic feature are the prints of the hind flipper-like paws (in the picture below).

American mink

Mustela vison Schreber, 1777 (American mink)

The trail chain of a burrow on loose snow is characterized by the usual two-bead pattern for mustelids. On sand or crust, three- or four-beam. In deep snow there are often “broaches” left from hind legs, which is why the chain of tracks looks like a continuous groove 8–10 cm wide. The length of the track is approximately 3 cm, the hasty step is 14–15 cm, the jump is from 25 to 40 cm.

East Siberian stoat

Mustela erminea kaneii (Baird, 1857) (East Siberian ermine)

The tracks of an ermine are a smaller copy of the tracks of a sable, oblong, 1.5–2 cm wide. When moving, it uses a two-bead pattern (p. 18, right), the length of the jump during a leisurely search move is 30–40 cm. At speed it switches to a three- or four-bead pattern, in this case the jump reaches 41–46 cm (page 18, left).

Siberian weasel

Mustela nivalis pygmaea J. Allen, 1903 (Siberian least weasel)

The weasel has the smallest footprints of all representatives of the mustelids and the shortest jump length - up to 25 cm (unlike the ermine, the weasel is short-legged). Due to its low weight, the weasel almost does not fall through even on loose snow. The footprint is 1.5 cm long, 1–1.2 cm wide. When moving, he most often uses a two-bead pattern, but at speed he switches to a four-bead pattern. The track of a large weasel is similar to that of an ermine. They can be distinguished by the nature of the trail chain: the weasel moves in short, wave-like zigzags, while the ermine makes its characteristic turns at right angles.

Yakut squirrel

Sciurus vulgaris jacutensis Ognev, 1929 (Yakutian red squirrel)

The squirrel mainly moves through the snow by jumping. The tracks are arranged in pairs, with the rear ones being more long paws imprinted in front of the short anterior ones. The pattern of a group of footprints resembles a trapezoid. The size of the front paw print is 4x2 cm, the back one is 6x3.5 cm. The length of the group of prints is 12 cm.

Gizhiga hare

Lepus timidus gichiganus J. Allen, 1903 (Gizhiga blue hare)

The most easily distinguishable print is a pair of larger hind paw prints in front and two smaller front paw prints in the back, one behind the other. The average size of the print of the front paw is 8.5x5 cm, the back - 12x8 cm. The length of the jump is 120–170 cm, however, when the animal escapes from pursuit or when frightened, it can reach 220 cm. On page 22 at the top right - the hare's dams, below - hole. On the left is the trace of a hind pair of feet on dense snow.

Moose buturlina

Alces americana buturlini Chernyavsky et Zheleznov, 1982 (Buturlin’s moos)

The most large mammal from ungulates of Kamchatka. When moving through deep snow, it leaves behind a wide “trench”. The footprint of an adult bull is on average 15.8 x 12 cm, the hooves are narrow, pointed, and capable of spreading widely when walking on soft ground. Side toe prints are clearly visible even on hard soil. The stride length ranges from 72–75 cm (easy walk) to 70–78 cm (trot) and 187 cm (gallop). The litter is brown, large, round in males and elongated, acorn-shaped in females.

Kamchatka reindeer

Rangifer tarandus phylarchus Hollister, 1912 (Kamchatka reindeer)

It differs from elk tracks in deep snow in that the “trench” is smaller. As a rule, deer prefer open swamps, tundras, wastelands, food hooves from under the snow, keep in herds or in large groups, while the elk goes into thickets, small forests, floodplains, eats branches, bark, and always stays in small groups or alone. The prints of large deer hooves have a characteristic kidney-shaped shape, are strongly rounded, and the prints of low-lying and widely spaced lateral toes are visible from behind. The length of the step at a slow pace is 50–82 cm. The droppings are small dark “nuts”, pointed on one side.

Kamchatka bighorn sheep

Ovis nivicola nivicola Eschscholtz, 1829 (Kamchatka snow sheep)

Footprints bighorn sheep can be found mainly in mountainous areas (the lower limit of its habitat ranges from 1000 to 1200 m) and on coastal terraces. In coastal areas (Kronotsky Peninsula, Cape Shipunsky, Cape Nalycheva, etc.), animals often descend onto the surf strip. The male's footprint is up to 6–9 cm in length, the step is up to 35–40 cm. The footprint consists of hoof prints; prints of the hind hooves are usually absent.

voles

Clethrionomys (Vole)

Moving in jumps, they leave holes in the snow, at the bottom of which there are traces of paws, and at the back there is a line from the tail (photo below). When running, the track consists of two continuous rows of prints, reminiscent of a miniature weasel track (photo above).

Kamchatka stone grouse

Tetrao parvirostris kamtschaticus Kittlitz, 1858 (Kamchatka black-billed capercaillie)

The capercaillie, like the partridge, has a chicken type of tracks. The length of the paw prints is 10–11 cm, in the capercaillie - up to 8 cm. The lateral front toes are slightly shorter than the middle one. The back toe leaves an impression up to 3 cm long from the heel. The trail is a straight line. It feeds on buds and twigs of birch trees, berries, and pine needles, so they are more often found in forest plantations.

Partridges

Lagopus (Ptarmigan)

Traces of partridges can be found in thickets of willow, alder, and along floodplains, where they feed on buds. The prints of the lateral front fingers relative to each other are located almost at a right angle (chicken type of prints). The step is short, 9–12 cm. The size of the footprint is 4.5x5–6 cm. On loose, deep snow, the trail looks like an openwork chain. At the top right is a partridge's roosting area, at the bottom are two trail chains on dense snow. Take-off trail (prints of the bird's wings are clearly visible).

Literature:

Gudkov V.M. Traces of animals and birds. Encyclopedic reference guide. M., Veche, 2008
Doleish K. Traces of animals and birds. M., Agropromizdat, 1987
Catalog of vertebrates of Kamchatka and adjacent marine areas. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 2000
Lasukov R. Animals and their traces. M., Forest Country, 2009
Oshmarin P.G., Pikunov D.G. Traces in nature. M., Nauka, 1990
Pikunov D.G., Mikull D.G. etc. Traces of wild animals Far East. Vladivostok, Dalnauka, 2004
Formozov A.N. Pathfinder's Companion. M., Moscow University, 1989
Ian Sheldon, Tamara Hartson. Animal Tracks of Alaska. Lone Pine, 1999

Animal tracks in the snow, photo. Winter walks and fun with children: we play trackers or start a photo hunt for the tracks of animals and birds.

Animal tracks in the snow

In winter, when the ground is covered with snow, many footprints appear on it. It is especially interesting to look at animal tracks. From the traces found, experts can determine a lot. For example, what animal they belong to, where it was going and how it moved (slowly or quickly), how long ago it happened, etc.

What are the traces?

Animal tracks are more than just their paw prints. Here are the types of wild animal tracks:

traces of movement (paw prints just belong to this type of traces)
traces of feeding activity
traces of home arrangement
traces of animal waste
information trails

Winter walks with children: playing as pathfinders or photo hunters

To make winter walks more exciting, you can invite children to play trackers or photo hunters and hunt for animal tracks. There can be several nominations, for example, you can award (an honorary title, a small toy or sweets) the one who finds:

biggest footprint
the smallest footprint
longest trail
the most unusual trail
most traces and will be able to correctly identify them

Following the entire path of an animal along its trail is called tracking. In this way you can learn a lot about the animal and its habits.

Animal tracks in the snow, pictures and photos

Before a walk, it is advisable to show children in drawings, or even better, in photographs, what the tracks of animals that they may encounter look like. They can be found on the Internet or in books. Books are very convenient because you can take them with you outside.

In our books we found the following pages with drawings of animal tracks:

Both children and adults will be very interested in learning other information about the tracks:

Traces of what beast of prey similar to human ones (like the footprint of a person’s bare foot)?
Which predatory animals have no claws on their tracks?
What grass did the Indians call the white man's footprint?

The most similar in shape to human footprints are bear paw prints, except for the claw prints on bear tracks.
There are no claws on the tracks of predatory felines. This is due to the fact that they do not extend their claws when walking.
Plantain. According to one version, Europeans accidentally brought the seeds of this plant to America on their shoes. According to another version, with the advent of settlers with vans in North America The first roads appeared, along the sides of which this plant grew. The Indians did not have transport on wheels, so it was with the movement of white people that they associated the spread of plantain.

Animal tracks in the snow, our photos

My daughter and I’s photo collection of footprints is small, although it has been collected for several years. But we photograph the tracks in our yard, and most of Our winters are gray and snowless.

We mainly have photographs of tracks of birds and domestic animals (cats, dogs) in an assortment :) All of them will not fit in the article, I will show some of them.

Dog footprints in the snow, photo

A dog's footprint differs from a cat's footprint in that it contains claw marks.

Cat footprint in the snow, photo

If the track of an animal is left in deep, loose snow, and it is difficult to understand in which direction the animal was moving, you need to pay attention to the walls of the track. The direction of movement of the animal coincides with the direction of the front part of the track, so you need to determine which part of the track is which. Since many animals often lower their paws obliquely and raise them vertically, the tracks on one side are deeper, with steep edges, and on the other side the edges are smoother. The front part of the trace is called the drag, and the back is called the drag. The wire is longer than the wire. This is noticeable in the photo.

Traces of a cat and dog in the snow

Some different tracks cats and dogs on one small piece of land. In addition to claw prints, the marks that we came across also differ in size.

Bird tracks in the snow, photo

The footprint of an ordinary neighbor's chicken (a coin for scale) and the traces of the same chicken, only running away.

Traces of small birds - the same ones we fed from (photos taken at the same time).

Hare tracks in the snow, photo

We asked our dad to photograph the hare tracks - not far from his work there are hares, foxes and other wild animals, but the only tracks we came across were hare tracks.

I suggest looking at other articles with the tag.

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