Where to look for tracks

Snow is some of the best substrate for looking for tracks! 
A good, fresh snowfall turns the whole landscape into a tracking canvas. This makes winter one of the most exciting times for tracking.

​Anywhere there is snow, you should be able to see some wildlife traffic!

A full set of squirrel tracks in snow

A coyote track in mud

Look for mud and soft, wet soil
When there is no snow, tracks can be more difficult to find. However, one thing we are also blessed with in the Pacific Northwest is rain - and dirt!

Muddy areas can be great for discovering who's been in an area. And, mud can be found anywhere! The best spots are along trails and the edges of small ponds just as the water is receding.

Hit the beach!
Sandy areas can also be good places to find tracks.

​Sandy beaches can be found along the major rivers in our area. Some of the best places are: 

• Oxbow Regional Park 
• Kelley Point Park
• Sauvie Island
• Oaks Bottom

Tracks left behind by a toad in sand

Make your own backyard track station
Create a canvas for wildlife in your backyard - no need for snow, mud, or sand.

You can easily create a simple tracking station out of plastic or vinyl paneling, or another nonabsorbent material. Set your track plate out, cover it with a thin layer of charcoal dust, chalk, or other similar material, and wait for animals to come! If there is wind and/or rain, you will also want to create a shelter for the track plate, so that the tracks don't wash or blow away.

Here are some more more tips from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: 
How to Set Up a Track Station

See our first Tracking Challenge for more info on where and how to look for tracks!

Track Challenge 1