December 31, 2008
- Winter Tracks
- Family Fun
- Upcoming DEC Events
- Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
- Capital District - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center
- Central New York - Rogers Environmental Education Center
- Western New York - Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center
Winter Tracks
Have you ever been on a walk in the winter, come across animal tracks and wondered what kind of animal made them and what they were doing? Mammal tracks show various gaits and patterns because different animals have different ways of traveling.
Walk - Mammals that walk leave behind alternating, evenly spaced prints in parallel rows. They often put their hind foot in the same spot where their front foot stepped. Walking is a slow way to move, but it's very energy efficient.
Trot - Some mammals trot, which is a faster way to get around but still energy efficient. During trotting, two diagonal feet move at the same time--for example, the left front and the rear right.
Gallop - Galloping is the fastest way for a mammal to travel, but it requires a lot of energy and can be done for only short periods. When an animal gallops, all four feet leave the ground at the same time during one stage of the activity.
Jump - Jumping requires the most energy. Although it's slower than galloping, it also includes one stage when all four feet leave the ground at the same time. Rabbits, squirrels, mice and rats are all jumpers.
Take the following posters on your next hike to help you do your own animal tracking:
Tracks poster - Part 1 (477 KB pdf)
Tracks poster - Part 2 (1.2 MB pdf)
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Family Fun
Tracks: Only Part of the Story
You can tell by animal tracks whether they were made by a deer foraging for food or a bobcat chasing prey. Did an animal stop for a drink? Are there many tracks in one spot, meaning an animal was looking for something to eat? What are some other signs of animal life that tell a story?
Scat - Scat (a fancy name for animal poop) tells us what an animal has been eating. Some animals use scat to mark their territory.
Fur and Feathers - Animals may lose their fur or feathers when they rub against something (to leave scent or scratch an itch) or when attacked by another animal. Look for fur stuck to lower branches or along the ground to tell you where animals have been.
Chew Marks - Animals such as deer, rabbit or beaver leave chew marks on the vegetation they eat. Chew marks are different for different animals because of their tooth structure and their eating habits.
Food Caches - Some animals such as squirrels collect and store food to eat during the winter.
Homes - Animals live in holes high in trees or near the ground, in leaf or twig nests in branches and in thick brambles. Some live in caves, burrows or dens. Deer and coyote leave well-worn paths from traveling the same trail over and over again from their homes to their feeding areas.
Do You Snowshoe?
Snowshoes have been used for transporation for thousands of years. Hunters of long ago needed to feed their families but found it difficult to get around in the deep snow. They watched animals like snowshoe hares move across the snow easily and created a design similar to the animal's feet. The first snowshoes were made of twigs and rawhide. Today, people snowshoe for fun and exercise; not too many rely on snowshoes for transportation in winter. Each of DEC's education centers has snowshoe trails and snowshoes to rent. So pick a sunny winter day, strap on some snowshoes, and go for a walk back in time.
Track Station
How can you track animal prints if there's no snow? Make your own track station. Get a 3' x 3' piece of plywood and some sand, flour or cornmeal. Find a level spot that's in the open but near trees or shrubs where animals might find food. Put the board flat on the ground and sprinkle flour, cornmeal or sand over the entire surface. Come back the next morning to check for footprints on your track station. How many different kinds are there? Use the posters offered above to help you identify your nightime visitors.
Check out Conservationist for Kids for more information and activities!
Upcoming DEC Events
Hudson Valley
Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
Animals in Winter
Saturday, January 3 at 2:00 PM
Where does wildlife go in winter, and how do they survive? Enjoy a visit with our cows, sheep, chickens and pigs, and compare what they eat and how they stay warm with the wild creatures of the forest and fields.
Feederwatch
Saturday, January 10 at 2:00 PM
Learn the ins and outs of birdfeeding--what kinds of food and feeders attract which bird species. Also, learn how you can add your own observations of birds at your feeders to the citizen-science effort called Project Feederwatch.
Guided Nature Walks
10:00 AM every Saturday
Join a Stony Kill naturalist, and explore trails and habitats together. Meet at the Manor House for this family-friendly program. Walks generally take one to one-and-one-half hours. Hikes will be on snowshoes if there is enough snow cover.
Capital Region
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Annual New Year's Day Bird Count
Thursday, January 1 at 9:00 AM
Come help us ring out our old annual bird list and ring in the new as we search high and low for our fine feathered friends. In the 28 years of this annual event, 69 different species have been found at Five Rivers on New Year's Day. Bring binoculars and dress warmly.
Winter Tea
Saturday, January 3 at 2:00 PM
Learn about plants that have been used as traditional winter teas, then come indoors and create your own tea bag and warm up with a cup of nature's tea.
Full Moon Walk
Friday, January 9 at 7:00 PM
Enjoy the beauty of a winter night and a magnificent full moon. Even if the sky is cloudy, the moon will provide enough light for our walk. Warm up afterwards with hot chocolate.
Snowshoeing
Saturday, January 10 at 2:00 PM
Whether it is snowy or not, we will discuss the ancient sport of snowshoeing.
Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center
Star Party with the Dudley Observatory
Saturday, January 10 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Explore the skies with the Dudley Observatory on the official kick-off date for the International Year of Astronomy at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center. Cost: $2 per person/$5 per family. Please call 518-456-0655 to register.
Snowshoe Adventure in the Pine Bush
Sunday, January 11 from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Have you ever tried snowshoeing? The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a great place to try this sport out! Cost: $2 per person/$5 per family. Please call 518-456-0655 to register.
Central New York
Rogers Environmental Education Center
New Year Wildlife List
Saturday, January 3 at 10:00 AM
If your New Year's resolution is to see more animals, you're in luck. We'll get you started and offer tips on when and where to look.
31st Annual Winter Living Celebration
Saturday, January 10 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Come to our Winter Living Celebration, and see what all the excitement's about! There will be snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and other activities (except for ice skating). If you get chilly, come inside and take a look at our exhibits, and listen to storytelling and live music. Remember to bring your Christmas tree for recycling into chips for our trails.
Western New York
Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center
Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959.
New Year's Day Bird Count
Thursday, January 1 from 9:00 AM to Noon
Help us record the first birds of the new year. After we are done counting, we will enjoy refreshments in the center.
Cross-Country Ski Tour
Saturday, January 3 at 10:00 AM
Bring your own skis or rent a pair (limited sizes), and glide through The Woods on a guided tour. Ski rental of $2/pair; free for FORNP members.
After School Escape
Thursday, January 8 at 4:00 PM
Enjoy a fun outdoor experience to encourage children to play and interact with the natural world. For kids in kindergarten through fifth grade and their caregivers. No registration required.
Full Wolf-Moon Snowshoe Walk
Friday, January 9 at 6:00 PM
Join a group walk along our trails as the moon lights the way. We also will look at snow with a magnifying glass to see the crystals that make up a snowflake. Snowshoe rental of $2/pair; free for FORNP members.
Not There Snowshoe Walk
Saturday, January 10 at 10:00 AM
Enjoy learning what animals you won't see on a winter walk, and find out how they spend winter.
Moonlight Cross-Country Ski Tour
Sunday, January 11 at 6:30 PM
Ski by the light of the moon. Bring your own skis or rent a pair (limited sizes). Ski rental of $2/pair; free for FORNP members.