Created by Jamie Schultz with support from Mallory Clarke
*This is a first edition, there are currently additions being made. To stay up to date, check the Google document linked here or at the bottom of this page!* Last Update: June 1st, 2019.
A printable version can be found for download at the bottom of this page.
This list was compiled to help all wildlife trackers, but especially more experienced trackers, to find a clear set of goals to work towards and search for in the field. It is by no means an all-encompassing list, and I encourage you to dive so deeply into it that you find things that I missed! When you find something, please send me an email: jamieandtj@gmail.com.
I created this with a couple different visions of how people may use it:
- As a guide to spot gaps in knowledge/awareness.
- As a guide to notice which types of sign you haven’t found from certain species.
- As a starting point for ecological tracking. Pick a species, pick a certain type of sign, then go out into the field and try to find it.
- As advanced level journal prompts.
- As a personal scavenger hunt
Mammals are categorized alphabetically, by family. All families in the Rodentia order and listed alphabetically under RODENTIA.
Reptiles + Amphibians are together.
Birds are categorized by type (waterbird, raptor, songbird, etc.).
Insects are listed alphabetically.
THE LIST:
CANIDAE
Domestic Dog – Canis lupus familiaris
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Slow gait
- Medium speed gait
- Fast gait
- Scat
- Dig
Red Fox – Vulpes vulpes
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Kit/juvenile tracks
- Slow gait
- Trotting gait (typical)
- Fast gait
- Scat
- Den
- Dig
- In snow
- In dirt
- Scent post
- Pounce mark in snow
Coyote – Canis latrans
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Pup/juvenile tracks
- Slow gait
- Trotting gait (typical)
- Fast gait
- Latrine
- Dig
- In snow
- In dirt
- Kill site where fed
- Scat:
- That includes meat/fur
- That is mostly plant matter
- Den
CERVIDAE
Deer – Odocoileus hemionus columbianus & O. virginianus leucurus
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- In leaf litter/forest floor
- Tracks of all 4 feet with dew claws
- Fawn tracks
- Scat:
- Spring scat
- Transitional scat
- Winter scat
- Buck rub
- Feeding sign
- Browse line
- Worn trail
Elk – Cervus elaphus nelsoni & C. canadensis roosevelti
- Tracks of all 4 feet
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- In leaf litter/forest floor
- Tracks of all 4 feet with dew claws
- Calf tracks
- Walking gait (typical)
- Fast gait
- Scat:
- Spring scat
- Winter scat
- Antler rub
- Cow territorial marking
- Feeding sign
- Worn trail
- Wallow
Mountain Goat – Oreamnos americanus
- Tracks of all four feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Slow gait
- Fast gait
- Scat
- Bed
- Rubs
- Shed hair
DIDELPHIMORPHIA
Opossum – Didelphis virginiana
- Tracks of all four feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Slow gait (understep walk)
- Fast gait
- Tail drag in snow
- Scat
- Burrow
FELIDAE
Domestic cat – Felis catus
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Walking gait (typical)
- Fast gait
- Rodent or bird kill
Bobcat – Lynx rufus
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- In other species’ tracks
- Kit/juvenile tracks
- Slow gait
- Trotting
- Fast gait
- Scat
- Scrape
- Kill site where fed
- Bed
- Scent post
Mountain lion – Puma concolor
- Tracks of all 4 feet
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Cub/juvenile tracks
- Slow gait
- Fast gait
- Scat
- Scrape
- Kill site where fed
- Bed/lay
LAGOMORPH
Pika – Ochotona princeps
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Bound
- Scat
- Hay mounds/vegetation clippings
Cottontail spp.
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Young/juvenile tracks
- Scat
- Young/juvenile scat
- Feeding sign
- Dust bath
- Form
- Winter nest
Snowshoe hare – Lepus americanus
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Young/juvenile tracks
- Bounding gait (typical)
- Scat
- Feeding sign
- Run
- Form
MEPHITIDAE
Striped Skunk – Mephitis mephitis
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Young/juvenile tracks
- Slow gait
- Fast gait
- Scat
- Feeding sign/digs
- Den
MUSTELIDAE
ST/LT Weasel – Mustela erminea/Mustela frenata
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow (dumbbell pattern)
- In clear substrate
- Slow gait
- Fast gait
- Scat
- Feeding sign
- Dragging prey (in snow)
- Digging out rodent burrows/nests
- Burrow
Mink – Neovison vison
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Slow gait
- Fast gait
- Scat
- Feeding sign
- Den
- Slide
American Marten – Martes americana
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Slow gait
- Fast gait
- Scat
- Feeding sign
- Den
- Sitzmark
River Otter – Lontra canadensis
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Slow gait
- Fast gait
- Playing/roll
- Slide
- Scat
- Mucus
- Scent mound
- Feeding site
- Den
PROCYONIDAE
Raccoon – Procyon lotor
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Substrate transfer
- Young/juvenile tracks
- Extreme overstep walking gait (typical)
- Bounding gait
- Other fast gait
- Scat
- Latrine
- Worn trail (in grass, dirt, etc.)
- Wearing on tree
- Claw marks on tree
RODENTIA
(separated by family)
Aplodontidae
Aplodontia – Aplodontia rufa
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Slow gait
- Cambium feeding
- Twig feeding
- Sword fern/vegetation clippings
- Hole/burrow
Castoridae
North American Beaver – Castor canadensis
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Walking gait
- Tail drag
- Scat
- Scent mound
- Cambium feeding
- Knotweed feeding sign
- Chew
- Digs
- Trench/trail
- Dam/ledge
- Bank burrow
Cricetidae
North American Deer Mouse – Peromyscus maniculatus
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Tail drag in snow
- Bound
- Highway/travel route
- Scat
- Feeding sign
- Hole
- Nest
- Snow burrow
Vole spp. :
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Tail drag in snow
- Trotting gait
- Run network
- Tunnel
- Nest
- Scat
- Latrine
- Latrine from winter (previously under snow)
- Food cache
- Feeding sign
- Feeding sign from winter (previously under snow)
Bushy-Tailed Woodrat – Neotoma cinerea
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Tail drag in snow
- Slow gait
- Fast gait
- Feeding sign
- Scat
- Fecal tar
- Urine deposits
- Nest
Muskrat – Ondatra zibethicus
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Walking gait
- Scat
- Feeding sign/station
- Dig
- Lodge/burrow
Dipodidae
Pacific Jumping Mouse – Zapus trinotatus
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In clear substrate
- Cut grass pile
- Nest
Erethizontidae
Porcupine – Erethizon dorsatum
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Tail drag
- Quill drag
- Slow gait
- Scat
- Cambium feeding/feeding sign
- Den
Muridae
Norway rat – Rattus norvegicus
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Tail drag in snow
- Fast gait
- Slow gait
- Scat
- Chew marks
- Worn trail
- Hole
- Feeding sign
Myocastoridae
Nutria – Myocastor coypus
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Feeding sign
- Bank burrow
Sciuridae
Chipmunk spp. :
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In clear substrate
- Bounding gait (typical)
- Scat
- Midden pile
- Feeding sign
- Food cache
- Burrow
Northern Flying Squirrel – Glaucomys sabrinus
- Tracks
- Bounding gaits (typical)
- Sitzmark
- Truffle digs/foraging sign
- Scat
Red (Douglas) Squirrel – Tamiasciurus douglasii
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Bounding gait (typical)
- Midden pile
- Feeding sign
- Cache
- Territorial marking
- Bark stripping
- Tree highway
Gray squirrel – Sciurus carolinensis
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Bounding gait (typical)
- Scat
- Feeding sign
- Drey
- Tree highway
Hoary Marmot – Marmota caligata
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Slow gait
- Fast gait
- Scat
- Feeding sign
- Burrows + access hole in snow
SORICIDAE
Shrew spp. :
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Tail drag in snow
- Tunnels/runs/burrows
- Scat
TALPIDAE
Mole spp. :
- Tracks
- Mound
- Hunting tunnel
URSIDAE
Black bear – Ursus americanus
- Tracks of all 4 feet:
- In snow
- In clear substrate
- Fast gait
- Overstep walk (typical)
- Other slow gait
- Cub tracks
- Scat including plant matter (fruit, leaves, flowers, etc.)
- Scat including meat or animal parts
- Feeding sign on trees
- Communication marks on trees
- Climbing marks on trees
- Feeding sign where heavy objects are turned
- Feeding sign where stumps or logs are torn open
- Den
- Bed
- Nursery tree
- Kill site where fed
- Habitual trail
- Anal plug
REPTILES + AMPHIBIANS
Frog spp. :
- Tracks of all 4 feet
- Egg masses
- Body mark (track)
Western Toad:
- Tracks of all 4 feet
- Walking gait
- Scat
- Burrows
- Eggs
Salamander spp. :
- Tracks of all 4 feet
- Tail drag
- Eggs
Newt:
- Tracks of all 4 feet
- Tail drag
- Eggs
Turtle:
- Tracks
- Scat
Snake:
- Trail
- Shed
Northern Alligator lizard:
- Tracks of all 4 feet
- Tail drag
BIRDS
WATERBIRDS
Great Blue Heron – Ardea herodias
- Tracks
- Scat
- Feathers
Canada Goose – Branta canadensis
- Tracks
- Scat
- Feeding sign
- Landing/Take-off
- Feathers
- Nests
Duck spp. :
- Tracks
- Scat
- Feeding sign
- Landing/Take-off
- Feathers
- Nests
Gull spp. :
- Tracks
- Scat
- Pellets
- Landing/Take-off
- Feathers
Spotted sandpiper – Actitis macularius
- Tracks
- Nesting site
- Probing
Killdeer – Charadrius vociferus
- Tracks
- Nesting site
RAPTORS
Bald Eagle – Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- Tracks
- Nest
- Scat
- Pellets
Owl spp. :
- Tracks
- Pellets
Hawk spp. :
- Tracks
- Pellets
CORVID
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos
- Tracks
- Gaits (find two):
- (1):
- (2):
- Nest
- Feathers
Raven – Corvus corax
- Tracks
- Nest
- Landing/Take-off
- Wing prints
- Feathers
Steller’s Jay – Cyanocitta stelleri
- Tracks
- Feathers
WOODPECKERS
Pileated Woodpecker – Dryocopus pileatus
- Feeding sign (cavities)
- Nest holes
- Feathers
Sapsucker spp. :
- Feeding sign (holes in tree)
Northern Flicker – Colaptes auratus
- Tracks
- Feathers
- Scat
SONGBIRDS
American Robin – Turdus migratorius
- Tracks
- Gaits (find 2)
- (1):
- (2):
- Landing/Take-off
- Feathers
Spotted Towhee – Pipilo maculatus
- Tracks
- Feeding sign (leaf litter scuffing)
- Feathers
Dark-Eyed Junco – Junco hyemalis
- Tracks
- Feathers
Pacific Wren – Troglodytes pacificus
- Tracks
- Feathers
Song Sparrow – Melospiza melodia
- Tracks
- Feathers
INSECTS
Ants:
- Trail
- Mound
- Feeding sign
- Eggs
Antlion:
- Pit trap
- Trail
Bark Beetle:
- Galleries
- Exit holes
Caterpillars:
- Tracks/trail
- Droppings
- Feeding sign
- Cocoon
Slugs/Snails:
- Trail
- Droppings
- Feeding sign (find two examples)
- (1):
- (2):
Spiders:
- Tracks
- Web (find two examples)
- (1):
- (2):
- Burrow
- Egg sack
Spittlebugs:
- Spittle/foam
Wasp:
- Tracks
- Nest (find two examples)
- (1):
- (2):
- Burrow
Worms:
- Trail
- Castings
